Wes Streeting shared his nervousness about his appearance on Loose Women, citing concerns about causing damage to the set. During his time on the ITV daytime show, the Health Secretary humorously mentioned almost toppling the table and recovering from a recent cold. Streeting’s presence aimed to emphasize the inclusion of menopause-related inquiries in NHS health assessments, marking a significant advancement for women in England.
Addressing his initial jitters, Streeting admitted to feeling extremely anxious, joking about nearly disrupting the set. He expressed gratitude for making it through the appearance without any mishaps despite battling a lingering cold. The show’s host, Jane Moore, light-heartedly attributed Streeting’s nerves to his care for the topic at hand.
After announcing improved support for women undergoing menopause, Streeting highlighted the long-standing silence around women’s menopausal experiences. Menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, following a transitional phase known as perimenopause. The NHS offers health checks every five years to individuals aged 40 to 74 to identify risks of conditions like heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and stroke.
Streeting stressed the importance of ending the silence surrounding menopausal symptoms and providing adequate support to those going through this phase. He criticized the outdated healthcare system for neglecting the seriousness of menopause and pledged the government’s commitment to revamping women’s healthcare to offer visibility and support for menopausal and perimenopausal individuals.