Written question WQ85055

I am aware that some women may be experiencing difficulty in obtaining some forms of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). In Wales, the number of prescriptions for HRT has increased by more than 40% in the last 5 years, regrettably manufacturers have not kept pace with increasing demand.

The UK Government has responsibility for maintaining the supply of medicines and I am pleased to see the Secretary of State has committed to act on improving the supply of HRT.

Occasionally, the NHS experiences temporary shortages of specific medicines, but there are well-established processes in place to deal with them. We are working closely with the UK Government, NHS Wales, GPs and community pharmacies to ensure patients continue to receive the medicines including HRT, they need.

I am aware that some HRT products are currently in short supply, however, there are a number of options for management including switching to an alternative HRT product, or limiting the duration of prescriptions. Advice on switching between HRT products is available from the British Menopause Society and this is being communicated to clinicians. We are working with the UK Government to issue a serious shortage protocol to enable community pharmacists to limit each patient’s supply of some HRT products to a maximum of three months.

Anyone who is having difficulty obtaining treatment should contact their doctor or pharmacist to discuss what alternatives might be available.