Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support women with the cost of medication relating to the menopause, who are unable to take HRT and are prescribed alternative medication.

We have no plans to change the current arrangements for exemptions to prescription charges to support women with the cost of medication relating to the menopause who are unable to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and are prescribed alternative medication.

Extensive arrangements are in already place to help people afford NHS prescriptions, including a broad range of exemptions for which women prescribed alternatives to HRT may already qualify. Approximately 89% of prescriptions are already dispensed free of charge. To support those who do not qualify for an exemption, the cost of prescriptions can be capped by purchasing a prescription pre-payment certificate, which can be paid for in instalments. A holder of a 12-month certificate can get all the prescriptions they need for just over £2 per week.