Health: HRT shortage - what can you do?

We know the HRT shortage has been affecting Gransnet (and Mumsnet) users. According to what you've told us in our menopause survey, 43% of those of you taking HRT have been affected by current shortages, and 40% of you have been told by a pharmacist or GP that your current HRT medication isn’t available. We don't think this is acceptable. We want to make sure everyone has easy access to the HRT medication they need.

Bizarrely, despite the shortages affecting so many women, nobody really knows why there’s a lack of HRT medication, or why specific problems at individual manufacturers (around the adhesive used in some patches) would result in a nationwide problem affecting so many different forms of HRT.

The problem may be complicated, but we think the ultimate responsibility for sorting it out lies with the Department for Health and Social Care and, ultimately, with the government. Some measures have already been taken, but we want a wholehearted focus on this issue, until women can get their prescriptions without fuss, stress or delay (and definitely without having to chase around umpteen pharmacists, consider buying medication online or even having to travel abroad to get the medicine they need).

As the observant among you will have noticed, there's a general election campaign going on, meaning now is the ideal time to get politicians’ attention.

So if you'd like to have your say...

How to get involved 

If you have one minute 

Please use social media to ask party leaders to commit to resolving this issue quickly and decisively if they form the next government. Here’s an example of a Tweet you could send:

Dear @JeremyCorbyn @BorisJohnson @JoSwinson. The HRT shortage has been going on for months with no end in sight. Will you act quickly and decisively to #endtheHRTshortage if you become PM? https://tinyurl.com/y4bfctoq
 

If you have three minutes

Use Who Can I Vote For? to find candidates standing in your local consitituency, and use social media or their email addresses to ask them to make the commitment. Here's a sample Tweet: 

Dear [candidate tag] - I’m a voter in [constituency name] and if you’re elected, I’d like you to put pressure on the new government to #endtheHRTshortage once and for all. Are you in? https://tiny.mn/334H07V
 

If you have five minutes

Letters or emails to candidates are often given a bit more weight than social media posts.

If you have personal experience of the HRT shortage, or know friends or family who are affected, you could email or write to candidates in your constituency asking them what their party plans to do about the shortage. Do let us know if you get any responses.
 

If you have any thoughts you'd like to share, please tell us what you think on this thread.