NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care (NHS GM), Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust have partnered up with the specialist menopause company Balance, to fund the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) certified course. The course includes six modules aimed to increase confidence and knowledge in the workplace around the signs and symptoms of peri menopause and menopause.
Capacity has been put in place to allow up to 10,000 colleagues access to the provision over a twelve-month period. It is hoped that this course will help form part of a wider cultural change that leads to better support for people going through the menopause, whilst also helping individuals understand the challenges and how to get the right help. This new resource will be launched at a virtual event on World Menopause Day and promoted through health and care organisations over the coming months.
Whilst huge progress is being made in menopause awareness and understanding, with line managers and colleagues becoming better educated, there are still more conversations to be had to help break the taboo.
This latest announcement is part of a wider workforce wellbeing programme in Greater Manchester that supports people with menopause and help them maintain good wellbeing. The programme is delivered in collaboration with health and care partners across Greater Manchester; working together to support their workforce. The latest events and resources are available here.
Janet Wilkinson, Chief People Officer for NHS GM says: “This wellbeing provision is a great resource for our health and care workforce and just goes to show how collaborative working with our NHS Trusts and wider partners is helping to make a difference to workforce wellbeing.”
Zoe Garnett, Staff Wellbeing Manager from Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh NHS Foundation Trust: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with other NHS Trusts and NHS GM to make this resource available for our colleagues. We know that experiencing the menopause and working can be challenging and we’re committed to supporting our people and educating those working with them.
This provision can be accessed by anyone working in health and care including those working in the NHS, primary care, social care and the VCSE sector – including volunteers and unwaged carers.
