It was great to see so many of you at our conference this week. For those present, we were privileged to announce the launch of a new Menopause e-learning programme for occupational health professionals which has been commissioned by NHS England. Network members have contributed to the content of this programme. 

The following briefing has been sent to us from Bukky Ayoade, Menopause Lead – Senior Programme Manager NHS England to share with you all. 

With more than 1.3 million staff in the NHS, those working in occupational health play a vital role in looking after the wider workforce, supporting people to feel their best and, in turn, deliver the best possible care for their patients.

The menopause can have a huge impact on the health and wellbeing of our staff, with symptoms ranging hot flushes and trouble sleeping to anxiety and low mood. For around a quarter of people going through the transition, symptoms can be severe and have a debilitating impact on their day to day life.

Studies show that hundreds of thousands of individuals have left the workplace as a result of their menopause symptoms. It is therefore incredibly important that those working in occupational health have the knowledge and resources required to support staff experiencing the menopause. 

This is why NHS England has developed a package of e-learning resources specifically designed for occupational health staff. The online module, which takes less than 30 minutes to complete, covers signs and symptoms of the menopause and looks at how people may be impacted in the workplace. Alongside case studies and real life scenarios, the package includes tips on offering specialist occupational health support and advice on making reasonable adjustments if appropriate. 

I know that for everyone working in the NHS, each and every day is a busy one, and it may feel difficult to carve out the time for additional learning. But if at all possible, I urge you to set aside 30 minutes to complete this module and enhance both your understanding of the menopause itself and the steps you can take to support a colleague going through it. 

With around one million women working in the NHS, and more people continuing their careers until a later age, the menopause is everyone's business and it is more important than ever that our staff are given the support they need. 

Our amazing occupational health staff already play a fundamental role in ensuring our people stay in the NHS, and I look forward to a future where everyone experiencing the menopause is given the help, support, and information they need to thrive. 

The OH menopause awareness session is available from elfh here and is also live on the learning hub here.