Menopause Matters Forum

General Discussion => This 'n' That => Topic started by: Perinowpost on October 29, 2021, 07:06:05 AM

Title: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: Perinowpost on October 29, 2021, 07:06:05 AM
MP’s are due to vote on a private members bill on Friday which if it goes through would mean hrt would be free. (Hope I’ve copied the link correctly).

https://apple.news/Aw31f98SjQh29el8X2VcjLg
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: VictoryV on October 29, 2021, 08:13:52 AM
Link is good. Thanks for posting☀️
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: Pennyfarthing on October 29, 2021, 08:51:44 AM
Saw this on TV earlier.  You beat me to it.
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: Perinowpost on October 29, 2021, 09:21:09 AM
Pennyfarthing 😂. Fingers crossed it goes through x
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: sheila99 on October 29, 2021, 09:25:34 AM
Might be more beneficial to spend the money educating gps.
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: Ju Ju on October 29, 2021, 11:19:46 AM
There are a lot of life threatening chronic illnesses that require ongoing medication eg asthma that do not qualify for free prescriptions. I struggled to pay the prepayment prescription charge, but had no choice. I am grateful to get free prescriptions since becoming 60. There are discussions of stopping this until reaching state pension age. Now I have a state pension I can actually afford prescriptions! I would have really struggled before. So can this country afford to make HRT free if treatment for life threatening illnesses aren’t?
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: Taz2 on October 29, 2021, 12:32:12 PM
It's through!  :ola:
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: Perinowpost on October 29, 2021, 12:46:07 PM
Wow, I can’t quite believe it - that is progress 👏👏👏
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: Joaniepat on October 29, 2021, 01:31:35 PM
👏👏🥂 :party: :medal:
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: CLKD on October 29, 2021, 01:58:17 PM
May I ask why this is deemed necessary?  I've had to pay (until I hit 60) for everything, including the ADs and anti-anxiety meds which helped keep me alive. Menopause isn't an illness although symptoms can cause problems as we read here every day. 

Which clinical conditions are likely to get free medications B4 60? 

I remember the days when the Prescription was the piece of paper, it didn't matter how many items went on it, there was a single charge.  Then someone cottoned on  >:(
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: Ju Ju on October 29, 2021, 02:28:02 PM
See my post. I have a friend who has a condition that requires meds, but is rare, but she didn’t  have to pay. She always said that it wasn’t fair that someone like me with asthma, (common condition) who would not have survived without meds and hospitalisation at times, has to pay. I’m grateful that I have had the meds and medical help and was able to scrape the money together for the prepayment certificate, but some people can’t afford it.
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: CLKD on October 29, 2021, 02:48:31 PM
Surely those on benefits etc. would get free prescriptions for on-going conditions  :-\
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: jillydoll on October 29, 2021, 05:44:47 PM
Yay…  :party:

Thank you to all who pushed this through!
 :thankyou:
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: sheila99 on October 29, 2021, 06:15:35 PM
I tend to agree it should be a level playing field, no reason why you should pay for one chronic condition but not another. It seems we'll be paying for e-cigs now for those who want to quit smoking. I'maall for helping people stop but if they can afford fags surely they can afford e-cigs.
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: CLKD on October 29, 2021, 06:38:17 PM
Yep.  I'm all for Means Testing.
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: Perinowpost on October 29, 2021, 07:20:07 PM
Here here Jillydoll, I saw Louise Newson on the news it’ll so think she must be part of it.

Re other ongoing conditions of course they should get the same support. We have a reactive government now is the time to push x 
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: jillydoll on October 30, 2021, 08:55:15 AM
Maybe, hopefully, this will open the door for other conditions too.
Hope so anyway.
Even I have a life long condition concerning my liver, and will need meds for the rest of my life.
So at least now, I’ve only one prescription to pay for.

Hi Perinowpost, at least we’ve got people like Dr Louise to help fight for us. 👍
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: CLKD on October 30, 2021, 08:59:42 AM
Does this mean that all clinics appts for menopause advice will be free from now on?
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: VictoryV on October 30, 2021, 09:33:31 AM
Does this mean that all clinics appts for menopause advice will be free from now on?
No. NHS HRT prescriptions, not private clinic fees, tests or prescriptions.
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: CLKD on October 30, 2021, 03:36:02 PM
So that's seen as an achievement?  Pity the energy wasn't put into educating GPs so that women don't get fobbed off  :bang:.  So that women don't have to seek private advice because the NHS isn't getting the message through.
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: Tamara on October 30, 2021, 05:33:56 PM
Does the bill cover topical HRT as well?
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: Tamara on October 30, 2021, 05:54:18 PM
I'm answering my own question...

From the Bill:
"  Menopause (Support and Services) Bill 18 Commons Library Research Briefing, 28 October 2021
 
2.2 The Bill’s clauses
Clause 1: Free HRT
Clause 1 would amend the National Health Service Act 2006 and the National
Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2015 to
exempt hormone replacement therapy from prescription charges in England.   Prescription charges were abolished in Wales in 2007,57 in Northern Ireland in
201058 and in Scotland in 2011.59 This means prescribed HRT is available free of
charge in the devolved administrations. Hormone replacement therapy is defined in clause 1(3) as “a treatment of
oestrogen, progestogen or both for the purposes of relieving the symptoms of
menopause, however it is administered.”
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: CLKD on October 30, 2021, 06:02:40 PM
Nothing about testosterone ...........  :-\
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: Tamara on October 30, 2021, 06:17:14 PM
Hmmm...

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/types/

"Testosterone is available as a gel that you rub onto your skin. It is not currently licensed for use in women, but it can be prescribed after the menopause by a specialist doctor if they think it might help restore your sex drive."

Do you think it's because of the licensing issue?
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: CLKD on October 31, 2021, 09:05:57 AM
Probably because it is thought that women don't require testosterone?

Tnx for the info. U R working well  :medal:
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: Tamara on October 31, 2021, 01:34:00 PM
You're welcome :)

To be fair, this at least (mostly) brings England in line with Wales and Scotland.

Re: testosterone, perhaps someone in Govt should have a chat with Nick Panay!
Title: Re: Bill to make menopause prescriptions free
Post by: sheila99 on October 31, 2021, 05:23:02 PM
It's a bureaucratic problem, there is no testosterone product licensed for use by wpmen in the UK. Because of this the GP is directly responsible if anything goes wrong and, understandably, most won't take that risk. Presumably the drug companies don't think there's a big enough market to be worth the cost. Androfemne is designed for women (much lower dose) but is licensed for use in many countries but not the UK.