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Lincolnshire menopausal women suffering in silence as just £10.11 spent on HRT




Women experiencing symptoms of the menopause say they have been left to “suffer in silence” due to a disparity in spending on drugs across England.

Analysis of NHS prescription data shows some local health areas spend three times the amount per woman on Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT) than others.

Experts said the treatment options offered by some local health boards were “very limited”.

Lincolnshire women are suffering in silence credit: istock/marsbars (60131599)
Lincolnshire women are suffering in silence credit: istock/marsbars (60131599)

HRT replaces hormones that are at a lower level as the menopause approaches. Not every patient will need or want HRT, and clinicians advise against it in some circumstances - including for patients with a history of certain types of cancer or blood clots.

Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group, which has not become the Integrated Care Board, is spending £10.11 on HRT, according to data compiled by the BBC’s Shared Data Unit

It spent £879,303.90 on HRT between April 2021 and June 2022 and issued 73,785 prescriptions

A total of 86,954 women aged between 45 and 60 in the county are receiving help.

Analysis showed the highest rate of spending was West Suffolk where £14.10 was spent per woman aged 45 to 60. That compared to £5.56 spent in Leicester City.

Dr Paula Briggs, the chair of the British Menopause Society, said the disparity was partly caused by the choices made by health boards, which decide how to spend funds on local services.

“I’m aware it depends where you live whether you can access the same products,” she said.



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