Agenda item

Report from the Executive Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health.

Recommendation:

1.    That the proposed Cabinet response to the Health Select Commission recommendations arising from their Spotlight Review into the Menopause (as set out in Appendix 1 of this report) be approved.

Consideration was given to the report which outlined Cabinet’s response to the Health Select Commission’s Scrutiny Review into menopause and perimenopause. Recommendations made by the Spotlight Review were set out in a report, endorsed by the Health Select Commission during its 14th May 2026 meeting, and subsequently by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board at its 3rd June 2026 meeting, and then presented to Cabinet for consideration on 6th July 2026. Appendix 1 to the report set out Cabinet’s response to those recommendations.

The review had originated from a Health Select Commission workshop before being developed into a formal scrutiny review due to the strength of engagement, evidence and discussion surrounding the issue. The review examined the experiences of women in the Borough and identified opportunities to improve awareness, information, support and partnership working relating to menopause and perimenopause.

The review's recommendations covered public awareness and information, Primary Care improvement, mental health support, community engagement, workplace health and system leadership. Cabinet endorsed the intent and ambition of all recommendations and agreed a response which sought to build upon existing work whilst recognising that many of the proposed actions required the co-operation of partner organisations outside the Council's direct control, including NHS organisations, GP practices and education providers. A number of recommendations were therefore partially accepted, reflecting those limitations rather than any disagreement with their objectives.

The agreed response included:

• Further development and promotion of menopause information through existing resources on RotherHive, alongside exploration of accessible printed information for digitally excluded residents.
• Development of targeted information for men and young people.
• Partnership work to encourage improvements in primary care awareness, training, referral pathways and the use of menopause champions within GP practices.
• Continued review and promotion of mental health support options linked to menopause.
• Review and potential expansion of menopause cafés, community information sessions and outreach support to underrepresented communities.
• Progression of workplace menopause champions within the Council and encouragement of similar approaches amongst partner organisations.
• Use of the Rotherham Women's Health Network to provide system leadership, oversee delivery of actions and explore future funding opportunities.

Councillor Steele welcomed Cabinet’s response in his capacity as Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board and acknowledged the considerable work undertaken by the Health Select Commission and supporting officers. He expressed the hope that, although the Council could not directly implement all recommendations, it would continue to work with and influence partner organisations to maximise delivery of the review's recommendations wherever possible.

Deputy Leader, Councillor Cusworth, referred to the continuing importance of encouraging partner organisations to improve awareness and support relating to menopause and perimenopause. She highlighted that the issue had become more widely recognised but that further progress remained necessary. She also recorded her appreciation for the work undertaken by the Commission and officers, describing the review as an example of scrutiny at its best.

Resolved:

That the proposed Cabinet response to the Health Select Commission recommendations arising from their Spotlight Review into the Menopause (as set out in Appendix 1 of this report) be approved.