The head of the UK’s vaccine working group has been appointed to a new unit set up to help tackle the shortage of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products.
Health Minister Sajid Javid has announced that Madeleine McTernan will lead the new HRT working group. We hope that the lessons from the rapid delivery of millions of coronavirus vaccines in the UK can be applied to the shortage of HRT products, said the ministers of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (DHSC).
McTernan said: “We will apply key knowledge from the successful way in which the Vaccine Working Group provided life-saving vaccines during the pandemic to help ensure that women have reliable and permanent access to these critical medicines.
The move comes as demand for HRT products in the UK has grown over the past few years due to increased awareness of menopause and the GP’s confidence in prescribing treatment. HRT can help relieve severe menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, low mood, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping.
But DHSC says the increase in demand is also one of the factors causing shortages among a small number of products, including Oestrogel, an estrogen-containing ointment that rubs into the skin.
DHSC says the HRT working group will work closely with vendors to find out what is causing the problems. It will then develop plans to ensure that both short-term and long-term supplies meet growing demand.
The team will also work with the NHS Business Services Authority to collect data to improve understanding of supply and demand, as well as what leads to shortages. It will also engage health authorities to ensure that they meet the increased demand.
Javid said: “I understand how much women rely on HRT, so we will not leave a stone unturned to help women get the HRT they need. That is why I have taken decisive action to appoint Madeleine McTernan as head of the HRT working group … to build on the success of the vaccine working group in boosting the supply of vital medicines to women across the country.
Maria Caulfield, Minister of Women’s Health, said: “It’s great to see that the demand for HRT has grown so much in the last year, because it means that women have access to the right support. HRT can help women cope with the severe, sometimes debilitating symptoms of menopause, allowing them to stay at work and live more normal lives.
“I want all women to feel empowered to talk to their GP about whether HRT would be right for them and for GPs to feel confident in prescribing.
“The new working group will play a vital role, engaging with suppliers, stakeholders and the government as a whole to ensure that it is researched every time to ensure that all women who want HRT have access to it. “
PA Media contributed to this report
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