A TV personality has succeeded after teaming up with women and MPs across the country to help fight the menopause.

Crowds of women gathered outside parliament to celebrate a drastic reduction in the cost of hormone replacement therapy prescriptions.

The government announced that the cost of repeat prescriptions for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for those experiencing symptoms of the menopause will be significantly reduced.

The commitment was made last month during the second reading of Labour MP Carolyn Harris’ private members’ bill in the House of Commons.

Health minister and Lewes MP Maria Caulfield said: “We have heard loud and clear from women across the country and MPs that menopause support is a key issue we as a government need to do more to address. As a woman and a nurse, I am acutely aware of how challenging the symptoms of the menopause can be to live with.

“Cutting the cost of HRT – which can be a lifeline to women severely impacted by menopause – is a great stride forward, but there is more to do. I look forward to further addressing the menopause as part of the women’s health strategy and working with Carolyn on improving support for women across the UK.”

HRT is a treatment to relieve symptoms of menopause by replacing the oestrogen and progesterone hormones the body no longer produces.

The Argus: Maria Caulfield and Davina McCall.Maria Caulfield and Davina McCall.

Campaigners have been calling for the charge to be scrapped completely with some saying the cost can deter women from seeking treatment.

Previously, some women who have a combination of both progesterone and oestrogen must pay for separate charges. But the change means women would see “in real terms” savings of up to £205 per year.

A menopause task force will also be created which “will encourage faster action and join up the dots across the system in order to take a coherent approach to improving support for those experiencing the menopause”.

Labour MP Carolyn Harris, who spearheaded the private members’ bill, said: “Today is a result for women across the country. The bill was never about wins for either side of the political divide – it was about wins for the 51 per cent of the population who will directly experience the menopause.

"The cost of HRT NHS prescriptions will be slashed – with the government committing to working towards getting this down to a single prescription charge per year – and the new taskforce will look at all the other areas of support which are currently falling short and failing women.”

“I look forward to working with the minister to revolutionise menopause support in this country and being world leaders in changing the narrative on something that has been a taboo subject for far too long.”

Campaigners including MPs and TV personalities such as Davina McCall and Penny Lancaster celebrated the move outside Parliament.

McCall welcomed the Government’s announcement, she said: “It's not political, it's female it's about women, it's not just about women, men are in there as well supporting women.

"It's important. It's important. 51 per cent of our population are women and it's something that we just weren't talking about."

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