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A recent report from the NHS Confederation reveals the significant economic impact of menopause and related women’s health issues in the UK. With thousands of women unable to work due to menopause symptoms and wider gaps in healthcare access, there’s an urgent need for increased investment in women’s health services.
“Menopause is not just a personal health issue; it’s an economic and societal challenge. The cost of lost productivity and the burden on healthcare systems are significant, highlighting the need for targeted investment in women’s health to drive both social and economic improvements.” – Dr Layla McCay, Director of Policy, NHS Confederation
To support Menopause Awareness Month this October, we are aiming to raise awareness of menopause at the workplace.
Our consultant Bindi Jacob, has provided a summary of our key takeaways below from the NHS confederation report.
Key takeaway 1: The economic impact is staggering
Around 60,000 women in the UK are unable to work due to debilitating menopause symptoms such as hot flushes and insomnia. This contributes to an annual cost of £1.5 billion to the UK economy.
Further compounding this are health issues like severe period pain, endometriosis, and ovarian cysts, which lead to additional losses of nearly £11 billion per year.
Key takeaway 2: Impact on women with long-term health conditions
Among women with long-term health conditions, 83% report that menopause negatively affects their ability to carry out daily tasks, including work, caregiving, and education.
Key takeaway 3: Healthcare disparities
Women from ethnic minority groups and those in deprived areas face worse health outcomes due to poorer access to healthcare. Currently, 750,000 women in the UK are on NHS waiting lists for gynaecology services, with local authorities showing variations in the availability of women’s health services.
Key takeaway 4: The case for investment
Increased public spending on women’s health could provide a high return on investment (ROI). For every £1 invested in obstetrics and gynaecology services per woman, the ROI could be as high as £11, potentially adding £319 million to the economy.
Key takeaway 5: Menopause and productivity loss
Menopause affects around 4.5 million women in the UK, with symptoms leading to £191 million in lost productivity annually. Severe period pain alone costs £3.7 billion due to absenteeism.
Conclusion – Investing in women's health is an economic imperative
The economic impact of menopause and other women’s health issues cannot be ignored. Investing in better healthcare access and support for women is crucial not only for their wellbeing but also for the nation's economic prosperity.
How can we support you?
We can help you integrate women's health into the workplace. Vodafone, Diageo and Channel 4 are already doing it!
Our approach follows BS 30416 - Menstruation, Menstrual Health and Menopause in the Workplace and Global reporting initiative (GRI) standards and we are supported by our subject matter expert Marlou Cornelissen from Period Reality.
Email help@simplifyclimate.co.uk, to schedule a discussion with our consultant Bindi Jacob.
Sources:
Menopause symptoms prevent 60 000 women from working, study finds (womenshealthmag.com)
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