Menopause support in Norfolk has been slammed as "totally unacceptable" as new figures have revealed women are waiting more than a year for help.

NHS statistics have shown that women in Norfolk seeking routine care in dealing with menopause are facing waits of 70 weeks in some parts of the county to be seen. 

The same figures show that almost 2,500 women have been waiting more than a year for gynaecology treatment - although not all of these are related to menopause.

During a meeting of Norfolk's health overview and scrutiny committee, councillors vented their frustration at the situation - including one who herself has been waiting more than a year for an appointment.

Eastern Daily Press: Alison Thomas, who chairs the Norfolk health and overview scrutiny committeeAlison Thomas, who chairs the Norfolk health and overview scrutiny committee (Image: Norfolk Conservatives)

Alison Thomas, who chairs the committee, said: "I am on the waiting list for a gynaecology appointment and have been for a year.

"People are getting to help far later in the process than potentially they should be.

"I think there is a lack of knowledge and understanding in some of our GP practices across Norfolk.

"It is patchy and a bit of a postcode lottery."

Fellow Conservative councillor Penny Carpenter described the care women received as "totally unacceptable".

She said: "I am living proof that menopause lasts years and it does not go away - it still lives with me and I still carry it and I am sure there are thousands of women like me.

"It is not acceptable that in 2023, women have to wait and it is not considered a priority. It is very debilitating." 

Mark Lim, director of planned care at NHS Norfolk and Waveney, admitted there were gaps in the care women receive.

He said: "There are known gaps and gaps in our knowledge. I think certainly in relation to gaps in our knowledge we do make the training available free of charge.

"We do not at present monitor this or what the uptake is."

Eastern Daily Press: Julie Brociek-Coulton, city and county councillor for Sewell.

Meanwhile, Labour councillor Julie Brociek-Coulton, shared her own experience of menopause to further emphasise the need for an improved understanding of it.

She said: "It is a really awful feeling - you can't function like you used to function.

"I'm only 58 but I feel like I'm almost an 80-year-old at times."