Menopause.. why it matters Suzanne Banks CBE What is the menopause? As the menopause approaches, the supply of eggs in a womans ovaries dwindles, the two sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone fluctuate and then begin to decline. This
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Menopause…….. why it matters Suzanne Banks CBE<br>
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What is the menopause? ‘As the menopause approaches, the supply of eggs in a woman’s ovaries dwindles, the two sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone fluctuate and then begin to decline. This then causes the cessation of menstruation’
Pre- menopause refers to the years when your menstrual cycle is regular
Peri-menopause refers to the stage lasting several years on either side of your last menstrual period. This means, in part it is a retrospective diagnosis
Menopause has a very precise meaning …. The menopause is a point in time that can be identified retrospectively when you have not had a menstrual bleed for 12 months.
Post-menopause refers to the end of your last menstrual period until the
end of your life<br>
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Just some of the symptoms which can be both short and long term…<br>
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Hot Flushes Deserve a special mention as they are so common amongst women going through both the peri / menopause and post menopause.
They are a common feature of abrupt menopause due to surgery / treatment with certain medications such as chemotherapy.
Rapid onset lasting from 1 to 5 minutes
Range from a few over the course of a week up to 10 or more in the daytime / night
They range in severity from a fleeting sense of warmth to a feeling of being consumed by a raging fire from the inside out
A major hot flush can induce facial and upper body flushing, sweating and sometimes confusion
Followed by a sudden chill …..
Think of the impact of having one whilst caring for a patient, in a meeting, doing a presentation….
Night-time hot flushes often result in disturbed sleep and needing to change bedding and nightwear and shower ….. Imagine having disturbed sleep every night!
Some women report they make them visible and vulnerable to derisory comments and embarrassment
They can be debilitating and can last for years!<br>
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Why is it important?<br>
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Case Study …….Sherwood Forest Hospitals 2017 and before….. Big Question. What is the NHS doing? Who can I learn from?
What was our data showing us? Unpicking sickness absence and demographic data at Trust Board and having the conversation with them
81% WF female
35% female over the age of 50
Anxiety, stress and Musculo skeletal issues highest within this menopause age profile
Start of 2018 – Henpicked conversation
Project Team – hand picked for heir passion and inundated thereafter for engagement
Throughout 2018 – build up in social media, comms #MenoPAUSE4thought, Library books, #passiton, CN and Trust bulletin, talk about it at Board and in meetings, Cultural change programme
Intervention study Jo Brewis follow through 12 month period<br>
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October 18th 2018 – World Menopause Day Our very first conference
Inundated with interest internally and externally – places filled for both conference and managers
BBC, Radio, Local newspapers
Emotional positive impact – laughter, tears and relief from colleagues
Conference opened by CEO and closed by Medical Director
Discussion around what they needed from us as a employer
Menopause guidelines and information leaflets launched
Engagement for intervention study<br>
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And then what?...... Evaluation of the conference – informed next steps
Monthly support groups themed based on feedback alongside coffee and tea conversations of support
OH, HR and Physio reported changing practice to consider menopause following referrals
Reviewed environment and fans available alongside access to changing facilities, drinks etc
Uniforms -supplier identified and review of materials
Interest nationally from other organisations and NHS Employers
Ongoing discussion across the trust about menopause – drip feed cultural change
Plans for another conference at other site and then annually thereafter<br>
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NHSE/I Menopause Improvement Programme<br>
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The impact of menopause on NHS staff is significant, especially among a workforce which sees a significantly greater proportion of women. We recognise that good menopause care can play a key role not just within the NHS workforce but in the wider economy. It has a direct / indirect impact on workforce retention levels, productivity and absenteeism. As an employer, NHSEI is committed to supporting our workforce who are going through the menopause as we recognise the impact this has on them both at home and within the workplace. Menopause and our People Generational Retention Programme - to improve retention and better support all staff in the early and later stages of their careers. The Retention team are working with a number of organisations and staff from across all regions to help shape the development of a national suite of interventions, that provide practical solutions to help other NHS organisations as well as showcasing the success of exemplar organisations. This suite of interventions will include support on the Menopause.
Apps to support education & signposting
Talking Heads to tell stories
Webinars
Support for organisations
Wellbeing conversations and support
Sharing good practice
Promote functionality on ESR to record absences relating to the menopause
Focus groups with staff Registered Nurse menopause age
There are 344,271 registered nurses (305,342 FTE) of which 88% (304,051) are female and 12% (40,220) are male. 31% (105,229) are in the menopause age bracket of 45 to 55 (94,360 FTE),<br>
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Think about….. Menopause Staff focus group outcomes<br>
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What should ‘menopause friendly’ NHS organisations be doing? Executive sponsor
Understand your demographic and sickness absence data (ESR functionality)
Understand what impact menopause is having on all your staff
Raise awareness and understanding of the effects of menopause at work
Destigmatise the taboo associated with talking about the menopause
Develop a policy or amend your policies to include menopause support
Educate and provide information and training on the menopause to everyone!
Ensure colleagues in OH and HR trained in menopause
Provide a menopause support network / Champions / Ambassadors
Promote menopause in local and national campaigns
Consider uniforms
Consider staff environment and be open to putting in changes to enhance their environment
Consider flexible working<br>
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Food for thought! Quotes from 42 women ref: STILL HOT! By Kaye Adams and Vicky Allan Incontinence …can be giggly when you get on a trampoline ….but its not normal I was genuinely worried I had early onset Alzheimer’s because I’d forget really important stuff Menopause is as much the beginning of something as it is the end It was like I had lost my nerve There is an essential ageism and misogyny around the idea that menopause is uniformly tragic … It’s not THE menopause. It’s YOUR menopause One of my real problems with the menopause was that I had to think about female stuff Menopause is a diversity issue. The face of menopause is very white and middle class<br>
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Call to Action! …..What will YOU do? #teamCNO #MatronsConference Matrons Conference – July 2021<br>
