How H&B has been Improving Access to Menopause Care and Support
29 September 2024
Improving women’s health, wellness and access to care and support sits at the heart of Holland & Barrett and we are proud to say that we have over 50 years’ experience in supporting women on their menopause journey.
We believe in a holistic approach to menopause, where nutrition, exercise, sleep and community each has a role to play. Through our stores and online we offer a wide range of expertise and solutions for the signs and symptoms of menopause, including foods and supplements which are recommended as part of a healthy and balanced lifestyle. We also do this through the many services we have launched to provide better access to information and support for all women.
We recognise and support the fact that there are many different routes to managing menopause symptoms. That’s why we…
- Equipped all 4,000 store colleagues who are Qualified to Advise with extensive health training on menopause education.
- Introduced 600 Women’s Health Coaches across our stores on high-streets up and down the country. Most H&B stores will have a dedicated Women’s Health Coach with expanded training created by medical professionals on the menstrual cycle, including common conditions, nutrition, gut health, sleep, mood and more, to offer free, personalised support and signposting to GPs when appropriate.
- In April 2024, we launched our H&B Women’s Wellness Commitment, which builds on our long-standing awareness campaigns and research around menopause.
- Partnered with Menopause Mandate to become the first retailer to launch a free nurse-led helpline to complement the advice our advisors can give. The helpline offers evidence-based medical advice on perimenopause and menopause symptoms, can answer common questions on medication, as well as support on how to prepare for a GP consultation.
- Offer a multi-language menopause online consultation service. The service sees trained H&B menopause advisors offering guidance and symptom support in multiple languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati and Punjabi.
- Launched the H&B Menopause Hub – featuring helpful content. All the menopause information and advice articles featured have been informed by trusted studies and have been reviewed and approved by our in-house doctor – Dr Anojan Arulananthan.
- On the Menopause Hub, we created the first agreed British Sign Language resource for D/deaf women experiencing the menopause with My Menopause Centre and BID Services
- Launched the Women’s Health Community Fund in partnership with leading Women’s health charity, Wellbeing of Women which provides resources to individuals and groups in under-served communities to raise awareness and provide information on menopause in the way that best reaches and serves the needs of their community.
We’re also proud to be a Menopause Friendly Accredited Employer which demonstrates our commitment to evolving our colleague support which has achieved accreditation status:
- Our colleagues have undergone extensive health training which includes menopause as well as menopause eLearning which is available for all colleagues across the business to help educate and understand this time of life.
- Our Guide to Menopause signposts internal support such as how to request extra uniform, access to portable neck fans, and how to have a wellbeing conversation with their line manager.
- Colleagues can book a free 15-minute consultation with a menopause health nurse, they can speak with one of the 50 mental health first aiders in the business, as well as access free counselling through our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme