The “crazy” bureaucracy of the NHS is preventing doctors from prescribing hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which can immediately help thousands of menopausal women, it was said last night.
The manufacturer of Bijuve, a substitute for Oestrogel, for which there is a chronic shortage, says that they have pallets of consumables that collect dust in storage, but cannot send them due to bureaucracy.
Tina Bachaus of Theramex, which makes Bijuve, said the crisis could be alleviated within days if drug approval rules are streamlined. “It can really be a quick victory,” she said. “Honestly, this bureaucratic nightmare can be solved by the end of the week.”
About one million women in the UK take HRT in the form of patches, pills or gels to replace hormones lost during menopause. Supply problems have led tens of thousands to fight for access to products, especially Oestrogel.
Last week, The Mail on Sunday joined forces with our sister newspaper, the Daily Mail, to launch our Fix The HRT Crisis campaign.
Estrogel (pictured) is used in hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but is often deficient. Alternatives like Bijuve are well stocked, but cannot be used due to bureaucracy
Lisa Snowden (pictured) campaigns to support women and raise awareness of high demand for HRT
Bijuve is an alternative and approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency, but is only available in three areas – Somerset, Norfolk and Oxford – because about 150 NHS hospital trusts and almost 130 NHS clinical groups have not yet signed it. .
Theramex representatives will meet with Health Minister Sajid Javid and new HRT king Madeleine McTernan on Thursday.
TV presenter Davina McCall (pictured) was very open to her positive experience with HRT and is a big supporter of improving supply in the UK
Although Bijuve is not suitable for all women who are currently being prescribed estrogel, both are “identical in body” forms of HRT, which means that they are virtually identical to the human sex hormones they replace.
About 30,000 women rely on Oestrogel, and Ms Backhouse said Theramex “definitely has the capacity” to intervene. “Twelve months ago we increased our production and our stocks are very good,” she said.
Describing the system as “crazy”, she added: “It would be better to have a national form [for HRT medicines] with experts who give recommendations on what should be on the list. That would cut the local bureaucracy.
Dr Paula Briggs, president-elect of the British Menopause Society, said the current system of local approval was “massively” delaying the use of new therapies.
Demand for HRT in the UK has increased in recent years, in part because celebrities are talking about their own menopause. TV presenter Davina McCall created the so-called “Davina effect” by announcing the benefits of HRT, and Lisa Snowden, who spoke about her campaign to support women in today’s You magazine, did much to raise awareness.
Madeleine McTernan: I will not leave stone to stone to end the shortage of HRT in the United Kingdom
- Madeleine McTernan has been elected the new king of HRT to try to alleviate the shortage
- She helped lead the vaccine task force as a crucial part of the success of the Covid sting
- She says she will do everything possible to ensure that women have reliable access to HRT
By Madeleine McTernan for The Mail On Sunday
Two years ago, none of us could have imagined the phenomenal impact of vaccines to lead our way out of the worst public health emergency in generations.
Combining experience from across the private sector, academia and government meant the UK was the first country in the world to introduce vaccines from Oxford University / AstraZeneca and Pfizer / BioNTech.
Thanks to the monumental efforts of NHS and volunteers, we have deployed more than 140 million doses of vaccine in the UK, which have become our best defense against Covid.
As Director-General of the Vaccine Working Group, I am extremely proud of what we have achieved together in this national mission. We overcame many obstacles and learned lessons from the pandemic, working systematically on the problems to find and implement the right solutions.
Madeleine McTernan (pictured) has been appointed the new king of HRT and will lead efforts to address drug shortages
Women in the UK protest against HRT prescription fees and supply shortages (pictured: London protest on April 29)
I am also proud of the key role that women leaders have played in responding to the pandemic. Now is the time to extend these successes to another challenge for the United Kingdom – the supply of hormone replacement therapy.
Menopause is a natural part of aging, but for some women it can have serious and debilitating effects that can affect work, family life and mental health. I am very glad that the discussion on this topic is opening up and more women are aware and have access to products to help them deal with these sometimes disturbing symptoms.
Although most HRT products are widely available, there are various challenges to the availability of some products, which means that some women struggle with access to the drugs they need.
Over the last week, I have read human stories about how a shortage of supply can leave women in a desperate state and about the rationing of their HRT supply.
This is terrible and I want to assure women all over the country that I will do my best to ensure that they have reliable access to HRT.
Some of the challenges stem from growing demand. In the last seven years, there has been a 38 percent increase in the number of prescription HRT products. This is, of course, a positive thing, and we need to work throughout the system to ensure that the supply chain can keep up with demand. We want to make sure that the supply of HRT not only meets the demand now, but meets the growing demand in the future.
The government is already taking action. On Friday, in order to balance the distribution and ensure that women have access to the drugs they need, three serious shortage protocols were issued, limiting the release of three HRT products to a quarterly supply. This is a step in the right direction.
The Vaccine Task Force worked closely with suppliers and did so during the Covid pandemic. I will use the same approach in this role – to work closely with HRT providers to find out where their limitations are and what can be done to deal with them.
I understand why women are worried. We listen to your concerns and do not leave a stone unturned to ensure that you have access to the medicines you need.
DEVINA McCALL: It’s time for husbands, brothers and sons to join us … and end the HRT crisis
By Davina McCall for The Mail On Sunday
I recently heard a story about a lady I will call Natalie who was in her late 40’s when she was so depressed and anxious that she was bedridden for a month. She didn’t even have the strength to get up and make a cup of tea.
As a result, she lost everything – her fiancé left her, she was fired and she had to leave home because she could no longer afford to support him. Her friends and immediate family were so scared of her that they would not allow her to be alone, worried that the story might repeat itself, as Natalie’s mother took her own life at the age of 45.
You may be wondering what the hell could drown Natalie in such despair? For some of you, it may come as a shock to read that it is menopause, although others of you who have struggled with its debilitating symptoms – or watched others do so – may not be so surprised.
Natalie’s story is just one of many I’ve read on websites and WhatsApp messages I’ve been flooded with since talking about my own menopause in last year’s documentary and on social media.
Many are piercing my heart, like the Scotswoman I’m interviewing for my new documentary tomorrow, who told the heartbreaking story of being in a car wondering what to drive to commit suicide.
These stories are not uncommon – and this is confirmed by statistics. It is no coincidence that the highest suicide rate among women is between the ages of 45 and 55 – the time when women go through this life-changing transition.
Other symptoms that can last for years include hot flashes; night sweats; migraine; palpitations; dry mouth, eyes, skin and vagina; brain fog and joint pain. Again, statistics clearly show that these symptoms can affect the quality of life to the point that some women quit their jobs and their relationships fail.
The good news is that the treatment comes in the form of HRT, which can help manage all the symptoms by replenishing vital hormones that your body has lost.
HRT also plays an active role in disease management, significantly reducing the risk of dementia, motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s and MS, as well as reducing the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis.
It is no exaggeration to say that for many women this is transformative. It was for me when I started taking it seven years ago, and it was for Natalie, who – after she was finally convinced to see her doctor – was immediately put on a high dose of HRT and who can now face the world again.
Many other women will testify to his miraculous qualities. If available, so be it.
We have all read the news reports of women exchanging their declining supplies online or trying to buy them from unknown – and often unreliable – suppliers abroad on the black market. I would urge women not to do so, but this is an indicator of how desperate they are to get HRT treatment.
Many women are just horrified that they are without him, and I don’t think it’s melodramatic to say that this is a crisis.
Nor is this the first time this has happened: there has been a periodic shortage of HRT for years and in the past it has not been uncommon for …
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