MNHQ here: perimenopause, menopause and the HRT shortage - our new campaign

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

We're pleased to announce a new campaign - this time in tandem with our sister site Gransnet - focusing on the menopause and perimenopause.

In this first phase we're aiming to get politicians to focus on the HRT shortage and do what's needed to sort it out.

In our survey, 43% of those taking HRT say they’ve been affected by current shortages, and 40% have been told by a pharmacist or GP that their current HRT medication isn’t available. And we know from conversations on Mumsnet that this issue is affecting lots of our users.

You can see more results from our survey here.

We'd love you to help us out by putting some pressure on candidates standing in your area for election - you can find some suggestions for actions you can take here.

And as ever please do let us know what you think.

Thanks
MNHQ

@RowanMumsnet Is Mn aware of the steps taken by the BMS- here in the link?

thebms.org.uk/2019/10/bms-response-to-the-governments-new-measures-to-tackle-hrt-shortages/

There's a shortage of many drugs at the moment so why just focus on HRT? There are probably all sorts of reasons for it but I have never seen anything like it before and it's very worrying. It's not just down to Brexit but that certainly doesn't help as it encourages stockpiling plus exporting medicines has become very profitable.

The Department of Health has already banned parallel export of some medicines to try and reduce shortages but a lot of the problems are down to manufacturing issues and I don't think there's much they can do about that as it often seems to be down to manufacturers being shutdown in India and China for not meeting safety standards.

@Scardanelli which patches do you have please?

@DarrellMakepeace I'm desperate for Evorel Conti if you still have them please. Will pm you

[quote JinglingHellsBells]@RowanMumsnet Is Mn aware of the steps taken by the BMS- here in the link?

thebms.org.uk/2019/10/bms-response-to-the-governments-new-measures-to-tackle-hrt-shortages/[/quote]

Thanks Jingle - yes we've been in touch with the BMS and asked for a meeting or phone call so that we can pick their brains

thanks for this

placemarking for later.

A great call, well done Mumsnet. My sister was affected by this - her usual HRT wasn't available. The doctor actually told her to go to a pharmacy, find out what was in stock, book another appt, bring him a list and he'd look for the best fit. She works full time and has to use annual leave for her GP appointments - she was not happy.

I have a taker for my Evorel Conti patches - but can anyone use my Evorel 50s? I have ten of them in total, and will gladly post them to anyone in need. Please PM me if so.

Thanks - I was recommended by a consultant to change to the patches "but they're not available"

Thank you Mumsnet 🙏

it’s entirely appropriate to lobby the Department of Health via our MPs to prioritise a solution even if we don’t personally know what that solution should be

a) this might work if we were not in the middle of an election campaign. It's not going to make much headway as an election issue as it's barely been launched and there's only 15 days to go
b) lobbying is always more effective when you know what you are asking for
c) that does not mean every detail of a solution (we are not the policy makers) but does involve knowing the key features of the issue - where the problem arose (manufacturing, distribution, deliberate covert rationing?) and who needs to act to solve it (industry, in which country, NHS procurement, logistics and distributing chain, the postcode lottery).

So I continue to consider that waiting until we have our new MPs wouid be wise, as would including a few key messages of what needs to be done.

Especially now that MNHQ have said that they were, before launching the campaign, unaware of BMS's actions. The time between now and new MPs could perhaps be usefully spent in consultations with those already active.

I suppose I mean 'do your homework' and 'pick your moment' . Not 'don't do this'

As much as I support this in principle, I agree with @scaevola
This campaign is badly timed owing to the election.
It's just over 2 weeks away!

Many MPs will lose their seats, so what is the point in lobbying them now? In any case, it will drop to the bottom of their in-tray as they have far more pressing issues to contend with in the next 2 weeks.

The BMS is fully aware of the situation and are pressing for answers, as are other menopause specialists (medics.) There is currently a petition #makemenopausematter and the women involved in that are also questioning the hrt shortages. A lot is being done already and has been for months.

Not to say it isn't a worthy campaign but the advice to contact MPs 2 weeks before an election (with far more issues at stake than previous elections) is not good timing.

@scaevola

Especially now that MNHQ have said that they were, before launching the campaign, unaware of BMS's actions.

This isn't right - we've been keeping a fairly close eye on BMS's updates. I don't think I did imply we hadn't been aware of them, but if I did, sorry for being unclear.

Thanks for your wider points and we're always up for some constructive criticism - I suppose our approach has been that in the absence of anyone fully understanding why this is happening, we think the buck stops with the DHSC and the Secretary of State - after all they, unlike the manufacturers, are directly responsible to British people. But appreciate people may disagree with that. And if anyone has a nifty idea for putting strategic pressure on the relevant manufacturers/wholesalers too we are all ears.

Tweeted. Not sure if this affects me personally yet, but it will very very soon.

And if anyone has a nifty idea for putting strategic pressure on the relevant manufacturers/wholesalers too we are all ears.

In cases where there is a manufacturing problem in another country (as is often the case) there isn't going to be a "nifty way" of making them stop having manufacturing issues or in some cases discontinuing drugs altogether but that doesn't make it any less pointless to lobby the Secretary of State about it.

@Scardanelli I could use those, yes. Happy to pay postage / donate to cause in lieu. Shall I PM you?

I'm glad MNHQ is looking into the shortage issue. Always good to shine a light. Never a dull moment at MN. It may well be that the Dept for Health and medical organisations know exactly what's going on - but if like to know too, please. If that's via the offices of MN, that's fine by me.

Yes!! Thank you MN. Somethings gotta be done

Posters here might be interested in this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/menopause/3751699-Evorel-Supply-Update-from-manufacturer

Having read your campaign statement I think this part of it is vital as well as providing more menopause training for GPs and ensuring that antidepressants aren’t prescribed where HRT is more clinically appropriate

Its shocking the number of women I know who have been put on antidepressants in their 40s and 50s when it was most likely their hormones causing the problems.

I think this is a good idea. Thank you MNHQ.
I have a friend who wants HRT but her female doctor has told her that her symptoms are not caused by the menopause.

This is being discussed on TV today This Morning and you need to read the linkleft into the investigative article linked below. @RowanMumsnet

So just found out today that my pharmacy cant fulfil my prescription, they have no everol, dont know when they will be getting any and cant tell me where i can get some. I have one patch left so looks like a weekend of panic hunting. On 100mg post hysterectomy as 39 and i cant face how u feel when im not on them 😥

Great idea. FWIW The HRT shortage also affects PMDD suffers putting them at serious risk of suicide.

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