WOMEN in Southampton are "fighting" to get menopause medication as analysis reveals funding for treatment is a postcode lottery.

Doctors in the area issued nearly 134,000 hormone replacement therapy prescriptions in a single year - with a £2m overall spend working out to £11.44 per woman aged 45-60.

But this places the area 23 per cent below the highest spending NHS area - West Suffolk which spent £14.09 per woman.

Among the women struggling to access treatment is Anna Johnston, from Millbrook, who had to see two doctors and have many appointments alongside "unnecessary" tests.

READ MORE: Southampton medics train 200 people how to save lives by giving CPR

The 49-year-old told the Daily Echo: "It was the fight to be heard for hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

"I had to go through two female doctors before anyone listened to me.

"The first doctor did blood tests that apparently I didn't need after speaking to the second female doctor.

"That's because if you're over 45 you do not need unnecessary blood tests. The second female doctor put me on HRT straight away.

"The delays throughout with the first doctor prolonged the process as it's not easy to get a doctor's appointment."

Anna said she then had a "stressful" experience getting her medication after being prescribed due to shortages.

She said: "The shortages of HRT have not been easy on me because then I have to try and find you alternatives.

"The pharmacy can only order much of HRT products each month.

"The pharmacist advised me to get my GP to put me on a repeat prescription for a two-month supply.

"So that rather than monthly it would guarantee me getting it at the chemist."

Experts say the decision-making of local health boards had contributed to some women not being offered the full range of options due to lack of funds.

Diane Danzebrink, of the Menopause Support charity, said GPs “hands were tied”.

She said: “Often we will hear from women who are being prescribed oral tablets as a first line, and they’re not being offered options.

“Sometimes that is because those options are purely not available on their local CCG formulary.

"So that sort of ties the hands of their doctors to be able to offer them choices.

"But we do definitely see that it seems to be in some parts of the country rather than others.”

The data has been compiled by the BBC Shared Data Unit looking at NHS Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight CCG prescription spending in 2021/22.

Romsey and Southampton North MP Caroline Nokes is Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee.

She said: "Clearly there is a real need to build knowledge in both GPs and women, so  the choices that are already available around HRT are better communicated.  

"We know there has been a giant increase in demand for HRT, but still some GPs are reluctant to prescribe it.

"That is one of the reasons the Women and Equalities Select Committee is calling for better training for GPs, to give them more confidence in both discussing menopause and then prescribing HRT.  

"I am sure there are many reasons for this apparent discrepancy in the rate of prescribing, but what we really need to see is a national formulary, so that some of the newest forms of HRT are available across the whole country."

An NHS spokesperson said: “The NHS has a Menopause Pathway Improvement Programme, which includes increased learning for clinicians in how they can best support menopausal women, and working with clinical colleges and menopause organisations to improve awareness and understanding.

“A new Menopause Optimal Pathway will also guide clinicians and help women in the workplace during peri-menopause, menopause and post-menopause.”

Dr Matt Nisbet, partner member, GP and Primary Care at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, said: "The former Hampshire, Southampton and the Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group spend on HRT was above the national average per person, higher than almost two-thirds of CCGs across England. 

"We are supporting our GPs and their patients to access alternative products when a certain brand isn’t available. Patients across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have access to a range of HRT products including tablets, patches and topical gels.”

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook