Women could be facing a postcode lottery for HRT with those in affluent areas having better access, menopause campaigners warn

Menopause campaigners have criticized the postcode lottery for HRT, saying women in some affluent areas may have better access to the therapy.

NHS prescribing data shows Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, along with Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Gloucestershire, have a better supply of HRT, helping some menopausal women suffering from symptoms such as low mood, hot flushes, anxiety and sleep problems.

The provision in Cornwall and the Scilly Isles for women aged 45 to 60 is three times greater than in North East London, which has the lowest rates in England according to an analysis by the Daily Telegraph (SUBS – please save and make it clear that all statistics from Telegraafanalyse).

The analysis found that six of the ten areas with the highest prescribing rates are in the South West of England, with rates also high in Suffolk and North East Essex, Sussex, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Surrey.

Meanwhile, five of the ten areas with the lowest prescribing rates are in London, and rates are low in the Black Country, Birmingham and Solihull, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, West Yorkshire and the North East and North Cumbria.

Dr. Louise Newson, a GP and menopause specialist, who is campaigning for better access to HRT, said: 'The majority of women in perimenopause and menopause are currently not being given hormones, which is wrong and also barbaric – this postcode lottery as it goes access to evidence-based treatment must change.

'Many women find it easier to be prescribed antidepressants than HRT, with the number of antidepressants in England being around double for women compared to men, and many women are offered these for common menopausal symptoms such as depression and anxiety, although antidepressants are not. a first-line treatment.

'Often women from more privileged backgrounds can more easily equip themselves with the knowledge to ask their GP for HRT.

'This may also help explain the higher rates in some wealthier areas, but we need better and more appropriate education to reach everyone as women often do not always realize symptoms such as fatigue, low mood, brain fog, memory problems, poor sleep and joint pain can be caused by declining hormone levels.'

Carolyn Harris, the Labor MP for Swansea and chair of the all-party parliamentary group on menopause, told the Mail: 'We are already concerned that women on lower incomes do not have the time or opportunity to learn about symptoms of menopause and treatments that can cause it. work for them through the media, or take the time to find out by meeting friends for coffee, as middle-class women may be more likely to do.

'This problem is exacerbated when lower rates of HST are prescribed in lower income areas, and the huge postcode lottery that clearly exists must end.

'We need national, not local, HRT prescriptions, and we also need prescribers who can dispense a wider range of medicines so that there are no shortages.

“This is too important to have rates differ depending on where you live in the country.”

Since launching in April, more than 464,000 HST prescription prepayment certificates have been issued (Stock Image)

National shortages of HRT led to an email campaign last year calling for more women to be made aware of the symptoms and treatment options.

The NHS data analysis, covering the 12 months to September 2023, shows a widening gap in provision between the richest and poorest areas compared to just over a year ago.

Haitham Hamada, from the British Menopause Society, said: 'Women should not be disadvantaged because of their geographical location or background, and all women should have access to menopause-related advice, support and treatment where necessary.'

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: 'We have put women's health at the top of the agenda by publishing a Women's Health Strategy for England, appointing the first ever Women's Health Ambassador and taking action to increase provision and reduce supply. the costs of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).'

Since its launch in April, more than 464,000 HST prepayment certificates have been issued, allowing women to save money by making a one-off payment for 12 months of HST.

An NHS spokesperson said: 'To ensure women have the most suitable options to choose from, all GPs are expected to follow the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guidelines when prescribing HRT and other treatments.'