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Silent Crisis: Heavy Periods Cost NHS Millions
11 Dec
Summary
- Mismanaged heavy period care costs the NHS millions annually.
- Thousands of patients could be treated earlier in the community.
- NHS faces over £13 million annual cost from this issue.
Heavy menstrual bleeding, affecting one in three women, is proving to be a costly and silent crisis for the NHS, amounting to millions of pounds annually due to mismanaged care. Experts suggest that a significant number of these cases could be effectively managed in community settings, preventing expensive hospitalizations and blood transfusions.
The study highlights that current NHS guidelines lack a clear pathway for efficiently managing acute heavy menstrual bleeding. This oversight results in women receiving temporary fixes, often remaining anemic, and facing long waiting lists for definitive treatment. The financial burden, estimated at over £13 million per year, stems from hospital admissions and subsequent care.
Women's health advocates emphasize the debilitating impact of heavy bleeding on daily life, including fear of leaving home and missed work or social events. They call for healthcare professionals to actively listen to patients' concerns about menstrual symptoms, which can signal serious underlying conditions, to improve outcomes and rebuild trust in women's healthcare.
