Home Page

University Hospitals Plymouth signs menopause workplace pledge

Menopause Workplace Pledge Logo

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) has signed up to the Menopause Workplace Pledge to demonstrate their commitment to encouraging open, positive and respectful conversations and ensuring colleagues are well informed and actively supported. 


Led by the national Wellbeing of Women charity, the campaign asks employers to recognise the impact that the menopause can have and be part of transforming the conversation about it.  The campaign is backed by high-profile supporters including Royal Patron HRH The Countess of Wessex, Ambassadors Baroness Karren Brady and Carol Vorderman, as well as Lord Karan Bilimoria and numerous MPs.


Jen Bennett, UHP Sickness Absence Manager, said: “I am really pleased UHP has signed up to the pledge. We want to reduce the stigma and taboo around the menopause, and to make our workplace a much more open, inclusive, and supportive place to work.  We want colleagues to know it is okay to talk about menopause, that we are listening and care about supporting staff.”


Pippa Jephcott, Interim Head of Learning & Organisational Development said: “We want UHP to be a place where staff are valued for being themselves. The menopause can be a really difficult time for women, both in terms of physical symptoms but also the mental and emotional impact. Reassuring and listening to staff so that work becomes a place of support and safety, and conversations about the menopause are actively encouraged is our aim.”

Rae Lloydmorgan, Unison Women’s Officer Said: “As a young woman I knew that I would face an early menopause as it was a familial trait, so I chose to study the menopause in my own time alongside my nursing studies.”

“I have recently taken a renewed interest and again trained & qualified as a menopause advisory nurse, using the training “Confidence in Menopause”, provided by Dr Louise Newsome and the NHS Menopause Society, which is free to all health professionals. 
My goal is to empower women to stand up for their rights to equal health care, and be able to obtain the therapies that they need to live long and happy lives”.

The Trust will be supporting staff by holding several events throughout October to help raise awareness of the menopause and increase the understanding of the impact to individuals. These include drop-in support sessions and information stands, as well as signposting to information, tools and resources being shared throughout the month to keep the conversation going. For a full list of events and to see how you can get involved, please see StaffNet.

Menopause effects nearly half of employees in the U.K. workforce, with professions such as nursing being made up of 48.9% of individuals at menopausal age. 

A 2019 survey conducted by BUPA and CIPD found that three in five menopausal people were negatively affected at work, and that almost 900,000 people in the UK left their jobs over an undefined period due to menopausal symptoms. 

NHS England has also signed the pledge to show its commitment to supporting staff going through the menopause, as well as educating and informing their colleagues, friends and managers to help create a supportive and inclusive workplace. 

For more information and sources of information visit our Menopause page on the UHP Staff Support Hub.

Was this page helpful?

Was this page helpful?
Rating

Please answer the question below, this helps us to reduce the number of spam emails that we receive so that we can spend more time responding to genuine enquiries and feedback. Thank you.

*

Our site uses cookies to help give you a better experience. If you choose not to accept these cookies, our site will still work correctly but some content may not display. You can read our cookie policy here

Please choose a setting: