NHS report shows an increase in HRT item prescriptions

Ahead of World Menopause Day 2024, taking place on 18 October, the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) has published its annual report on Hormone Replacement Therapy in England.

The latest figures, from April 2015 to June 2024, provide a national view of prescribing hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT is a treatment to relieve symptoms of the menopause. It replaces hormones that are at a lower level during the perimenopause, menopause and post menopause.

Key findings from the report show that, during 2023/24:

• There were 13 million HRT items prescribed, a 22% increase since 2022/23.
• The estimated number of identified patients increased by 12%, from 2.3 million in 2022/23 to 2.6 million in 2023/24.
• Utrogestan 100mg tablets was the BNF presentation with both the highest number of items prescribed and identified patients in 2023/24. Utrogestan 100mg tablets increased by 42% to 1.3 million items, up from 940,000 items in 2022/23.
• Patients aged 50 to 54 were the largest group of identified patients with 640,000 identified patients in this category. They account for almost a quarter of all identified patients in 2023/34.
• The least deprived areas in England had more than twice as many identified patients receiving HRT prescribing compared to the most deprived areas.

The publication includes all drugs that are covered by the HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC), which reduces the costs of prescriptions. The Department of Health and Social Care introduced the HRT PPC on 1 April 2023, as a service provided by the NHSBSA. Since its launch, the HRT PPC has helped people across England with health costs, with 893,593 successful purchases to date.   

The report shows 1.9 million items were issued to patients with an HRT PPC in 2023/24. The proportion of HRT items for which an HRT PPC was used was 14.5% in 2023/24. This proportion increased to 21% in June 2024, compared to 9.7% in June 2023.

To read the full statistics publication, visit: Hormone Replacement Therapy - England, April 2015 to June 2024 | NHSBSA