Following the campaigning work of the broadcaster Mariella Frostrup, journalist Alice Smellie and others to raise awareness of the menopause, Vets Now has launched Peppy, a new app to support those of its staff who are going through it.

Alice and Mariella, who co-authored the book Cracking the Menopause, met with MPs earlier this month to present the goals of their campaign: education for all on the menopause, an end to scaremongering, prescribing women with the correct medication and making HRT affordable and accessible to all.

Vets Now says 88% of its 1800 employees are women, 28% of whom are aged over 40, when they could be perimenopausal, menopausal or postmenopausal.

The company's new app offers its employees video consultations with health experts, health and fitness programmes, and support with mental health and nutrition. 

Vet's Now says it's the starting point for a wider menopause support plan being launched later in the year which will include steps to help manage mental wellbeing at work, menopause support hubs and encouraging a culture which talks honestly about menopause.

Laura Black, Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeing, said: “Women over 50 are the fastest growing demographic in the workplace and sadly it’s estimated that almost 900,000 women in the UK have quit their jobs due to the menopause.

“We are committed to creating an understanding workplace for employees going through the perimenopause and menopause and want to make sure they feel supported by us at all times.

“We've launched Peppy to help our colleagues take control of their health and get the answers they need from experts, anytime, anywhere.

"The app is free to access for all employees and their partners.

“We’ve been working hard on formulating a menopause support package for staff over the past couple of years and we’re really proud that we’re one of the first major veterinary businesses to make this step change.

"We’d encourage other businesses in the sector to look at similar plans for their colleagues.”

While the drive to launch Peppy was initially to support the Vets Now Menopause policy, it also provides support for fertility, pregnancy, early parenthood and men’s health.

For more information on Peppy visit www.peppy.health.

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