Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provide support to women for (1) the impact of menopause on mental health, and (2) accessing affordable resources for menopause, by opening more community diagnostic centres.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government acknowledges that women suffering from symptoms of menopause have been failed for far too long, and we acknowledge the impact it has on women’s lives, relationships, and participation in the workplace.

We have made strong progress in turning the commitments in the last government’s Women's Health Strategy into tangible action. Our renewed strategy will address gaps from the 2022 strategy, and go further to create a system that listens to women and tackles health inequalities across England.

Renewing the strategy will help identify and remove enduring barriers to high-quality care across England, such as long waits for diagnosis, and ensuring professionals listen and respond to women’s needs.

As announced in October, we will be asking local authorities to include menopause in the NHS Health Check later this year. This will support eligible women across England to access high quality information on the menopause, including advice on managing symptoms, where to seek support, and a diagnosis.

Menopause and menstrual problems will be among the priorities for the National Health Service’s revolutionary new online hospital when it launches next year, providing faster access to specialist care.

We recognise that for some women symptoms of menopause can have a detrimental impact on mental health. Women experiencing anxiety or depression can get support from NHS Talking Therapies. They can ask their general practitioner to refer them or they can self-refer. As part of the 10-Year Health Plan, we are expanding Talking Therapies so that 915,000 people can complete a course of treatment by March 2029.

Community diagnostic centres (CDCs) are a shining example of how we’re shifting care out of hospitals and into the community, making life easier and more convenient for patients. As of March 2026, 170 CDCs across England are open, 108 of which offer at least one service for 12 hours a day, seven days a week, meaning that people can fit appointments, such as diagnostics for women on gynaecology pathways, around their lives, not the other way around. NHS England is working with local NHS systems to identify the most appropriate locations for additional investment, including new CDCs. New CDCs will be positioned in a location which addresses local need and address health inequalities.