The manufacturer of Bijuve, a substitute for Oestrogel for which there is a chronic shortage, says that it has pallets with supplies that collect dust in a warehouse, but can not send them due to bureaucracy. Bijuve-based Theramex-based Tina Backhouse said the crisis could be eased within days if drug approval rules were streamlined. “It could really be a quick win,” he said. “Honestly, this bureaucratic nightmare could be solved by the end of the week.” About one million women in the UK receive HRT in patches, pills or gels to replace the hormones lost during menopause. Supply problems have left tens of thousands of people having difficulty accessing products, especially Oestrogel. Last week, The Mail on Sunday joined forces with our sister newspaper, the Daily Mail, to launch the Fix The HRT Crisis campaign. Estrogen (pictured) is used in hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but is often lacking. Alternatively like Bijuve, they are well stocked but can not be used due to bureaucracy Lisa Snowdon (pictured) campaigns to help women raise awareness of high demand for HRT Bijuve is an alternative and has been approved by the Drugs and Health Products Regulatory Authority, but is only available in three areas – Somerset, Norfolk and Oxford – because about 150 NHS hospital trusts and almost 130 NHS clinical teams have not signed it. yet. . Representatives of Theramex will meet with Health Minister Sajid Javid and new HRT Tsar Madelaine McTernan on Thursday. TV presenter Davina McCall (pictured) was very open about her positive experiences with HRT and is a big supporter of improving supply in the UK Although Bijuve is not suitable for all women currently receiving estrogen, both are “identical” forms of HRT, meaning they are virtually identical to the human sex hormones they replace. Some 30,000 women rely on Oestrogel, and Ms Backhouse said Theramex “definitely has the ability” to intervene. “Twelve months ago we increased our production and our stocks are very good,” he said. Describing the system as “crazy”, he added: “It would be better to have a national recipe [for HRT medicines] with experts giving recommendations on what should be on the list. That would cut the local bureaucracy. “ Dr Paula Briggs, president-elect of the British Society of Menopause, said the current local census system was “massively” delaying the use of new treatments. Demand for HRT in Britain has grown in recent years, in part due to celebrities talking about their own menopause. TV presenter Davina McCall created the so-called “Davina effect” by announcing the benefits of HRT, and Lisa Snowdon, who talks about her campaign to help women in today’s You magazine, has done a lot to raise awareness. MADELINE MACTERNAN: I will not leave any stone unturned to end HRT shortage in UK

Madelaine McTernan becomes HRT’s new tsar to try to alleviate shortages Help lead the Vaccine Working Group as a critical part of Covid Vaccine success She says she will do everything she can to ensure that women have reliable access to HRT

By Madelaine Mcternan For The Mail On Sunday Two years ago, none of us could have imagined the amazing impact that vaccines could have on getting out of the worst public health emergency for generations. Gathering expertise from across the private sector, academia and government, Britain was the first country in the world to introduce Oxford / AstraZeneca and Pfizer / BioNTech vaccines. Thanks to the monumental efforts of the NHS and volunteers, we have developed more than 140 million doses of vaccine across the UK that have become our best defense against Covid. As Director-General of the Vaccine Working Group, I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished together in this national mission. We have overcome many obstacles and we have learned lessons from the pandemic, we work systematically on issues to find and implement the right solutions. Madelaine McTernan (pictured) has been named HRT’s new tsar and will lead efforts to address drug shortages. Women across the UK protest HRT prescription charges and supply shortages (Photo: Protest in London on April 29) I am also proud of the key role that women leaders have played in tackling the pandemic. Now is the time to extend these successes to another challenge facing the UK – providing hormone replacement therapy. Menopause is a natural part of aging, but for some women it can have serious and debilitating consequences that can affect their work, family life and mental health. I’m glad the debate is about this and more women are aware of and have access to products that will help them manage these sometimes annoying symptoms. While most HRT products are widely available, there are several challenges facing the availability of certain products, which means that some women find it difficult to access the medicines they need. Last week, I read human stories about how a lack of supply can leave women in despair and about their share of HRT supply. This is awesome and I want to assure women across the country that I will do everything I can to ensure that they can have reliable access to HRT. Some of the challenges stem from growing demand. There has been a 38 percent increase in the number of prescription HRT items in the last seven years. This is, of course, a positive thing and we need to work throughout the system to ensure that the supply chain can support demand. We want to ensure that HRT supply not only matches demand now, but also growing demand in the future. The Government has already taken action. On Friday, in order to smooth the distribution and ensure that women can access the medicines they need, three Serious Deficiency Protocols were issued to limit the distribution of three HRT products to a three-month supply. This is a step in the right direction. The Vaccine Working Group works closely with suppliers and has done so throughout the Covid pandemic. I will take the same approach to this role – working closely with HRT providers to understand where their limitations lie and what can be done to address them. I understand why women are worried. We listen to your concerns and do not leave any steps to ensure that you have access to the medicine you need. DAVINA McCALL: It’s time for husbands, brothers and sons to join us … and put an end to the HRT crisis By Davina Mccall For The Mail On Sunday I recently heard a story about a lady I would call Natalie, who was in her late 40’s when she was so depressed and anxious that she was bedridden for a month. He did not even have the energy to get up and make a cup of tea. As a result, she lost everything – her fiancé left her, she was fired and she was forced to leave her home because she could no longer afford it. Her friends and close family feared so much for her that they did not allow her to be left alone, anxious that history would repeat itself, as Natalie’s mother had committed suicide at the age of 45. You may be wondering what the hell could have plunged Natalie into such despair? It may come as a shock to some of you to read that it was menopause, although others of you who have struggled with its debilitating symptoms – or watched others do it – may not be so surprised. Natalie’s story is just one of many that I’ve read on websites and WhatsApp messages that have flooded me since I talked about my own menopause in last year ‘s documentary and on social media. Many pierce my heart, like the Scotswoman I interviewed for my new documentary to be screened tomorrow, who told the shocking story of being in a car and wondering what led to her committing suicide. These stories are not uncommon – and confirmed by statistics. It is no coincidence that the highest suicide rate among women is between 45 and 55 years – at a time when women are going through this life-changing transition. Other symptoms, which can last for years, include hot flashes. night sweats? migraines; feeling of pulse; dry mouth, eyes, skin and vagina. brain fog and joint pain. Again, statistics make it clear that these symptoms can affect the quality of life to the extent that some women quit their jobs and their relationships fail. The good news is that treatment is available in the form of HRT, which can help manage all the symptoms by replenishing the vital hormones your body has lost. HRT also plays an active role in disease management, massively 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 it is transformative. It was for me when I started taking it seven years ago, and it was for Natalie, who – after finally being convinced to see her doctor – immediately received a high dose of HRT and who is now able to face the world again. Many other women will witness his miraculous qualities. If available this is. We have all read the news bulletins about women exchanging their declining supplies online or trying to buy them from unknown – and very often unreliable – overseas suppliers on the black market. I would urge women not to do this, but it is an indication of how desperate they are to get their hands on HRT treatment. Many women are afraid to go without it and I do not think it is melodramatic to say that this is a crisis. Nor is this the first time this has happened: there have been shortages on and off HRT for years, and it has not been unusual for women in the past …