Gov health announcement

Government announced the first of its kind programme of checks for 40 - 74 year old women in England.

In the last week of world Menopause awareness month October 2025 the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced women across England would benefit from the menopause being included in routine NHS health checks for the first time. Dedicated questions NHS Health Checks about menopause, free assessments offered to eligible adults aged 40 - 74 every five years estimated to benefit 5 million women.

Unfortunately, No mention of the devolved governments and ‘if or when’ will be rolled out for all women as a free and essential health check, starting the revolution of women’s health being acknowledged and building data. A postcode lottery still exists for support for women.

A welcome step for England.

At first glance a welcome step for NHS to acknowledge and implement. However is it more rhetoric? Every five years seems to be too big a gap with ongoing acute and chronic health changes; menopausal women are prone to from peri and post menopause.

This programme is a toe in the water.

However a deeper programme with regular of early detection supporting, prevention and avoidance practices. A programme of six month and/or yearly checks, would be more appropriate, timing to detect underlying health influences much earlier. Urgently required and a logical step to help support women through this period of their lives.

Why do we have to wait five years?

Other health issues have 6-month checks, why not implement for women and menopause, the logical step for prevention and early action, hugely beneficial to women and NHS. Detecting menstrual issues, chronic disorders such as Endometriosis, Fibroids, Cancer and bone density checks. 

Were you aware that Osteoporosis can start in our 30s and 40s, early detection would prevent and save Billions economically, reducing health decline.  A win-win.

It will be interesting to watch the programme unfold and if further stages of earlier detection take place. Appropriate care is underestimated and women are underacknowledged to the extent and depth this period in their lives delivers!

Join me, please write to your devolved governments, MPs, Health ministers etc., and press for answers when health checks will be implemented in Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Implementing common sense practices of health checks for women 40-74. 

Fingers crossed common sense will prevail, because early checks save millions to NHS, avoiding serious and severe outcomes.

Joy Wisdom

Founder and spokesperson for Joy Wisdom Trust

11.25