Oral Answers to Questions

Kirsten Oswald Excerpts

Tuesday 7th March 2023 Commons Chamber

[Neil O’Brien]

The Secretary of State will have taken note of my hon. Friend’s representations.

[Kirsten Oswald (East Renfrewshire) (SNP)]

12. What steps he is taking to help reduce the cost of hormone replacement therapy for people with menopause symptoms.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Maria Caulfield)]

This is a great opportunity to remind the House that, from 1 April, women will be able to apply for an HRT prepayment prescription for less than £20 a year to pay for all their HRT, whether they are on patches, gels or dual hormones.

[Kirsten Oswald (East Renfrewshire) (SNP)]

Although these cost reductions are welcome, England is still the only UK nation not to offer free prescriptions. Instead, the UK Government are penalising those who are experiencing menopause who need these medications to improve their symptoms. Will the Minister not consider following Scotland’s lead and scrap prescription charges to better provide accessible menopause support?

[Maria Caulfield]

I remind the hon. Lady that about 60% of women in England who are on hormone replacement therapy are already exempt from prescription charges, but we are reducing the cost by hundreds of pounds a year for the remaining women who do pay. We respect the Scottish Government’s decision to provide free prescriptions, but it would cost us in England £651 million a year to provide free paracetamol to millionaires and we do not think that is the best use of taxpayer money.