'A major step forward in women's healthcare'

THE powerful new BBC drama Riot Women burst onto our TV screens last month proving that midlife is not a time to sit quietly on the sidelines.

- Charlotte Atkins - Labour councillor for Leek, Cabinet Member for Services at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

MENOPAUSE: TV show Riot Women.

The show written by Sally Wainwright, creator of Happy Valley, follows a group of five midlife women who form a punk band.

Riot Women is inspired by the realities of menopause, tapping into the frustrations, joys and unspoken truths of women juggling careers, family and ageing parents.

The band sings about the challenges faced by women, not least the failure of society to recognise the adverse impact of the menopause.

For far too long, women's experiences of menopause have been minimised or misunderstood, with symptoms mistaken for other conditions or attributed to stress or lifestyle factors.

So, it is very welcome that last month the Labour Government finally ensured that menopause advice will be added to free NHS health checks to help millions of women to get the care they need.

Routine appointments will now tackle one of women's most overlooked health challenges, ensuring those experiencing perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms get the right information and support, while also raising awareness so more women recognise the signs and seek help sooner if needed.