Exeter NHS 111 marks Menopause Awareness Month with new staff advocacy role

Exeter’s NHS 111 South West call centre has introduced a new Menopause Advocacy role this October to mark Menopause Awareness Month and World Menopause Day. 

The pilot scheme, launched by Practice Plus Group, is designed to provide staff with a supportive space to discuss menopause and perimenopause, and is expected to expand across the organisation in the coming months.

At the heart of the initiative are two newly appointed Menopause Ambassadors, including Molly Steadman, 29, a Contact Centre Team Manager based in Exeter, and Karen Reed, 51, IUC Contact Centre Team Manager in Bristol. 

Both bring personal experience and a passion for raising awareness about the impact of menopause on women and their families, as well as promoting available support services.

Karen Reed, who has experienced menopause symptoms unexpectedly, described the challenges she faced. 

“Before I realised what was going on, I was worried and didn’t know what was happening to me,” she said. “I get extreme fatigue and insomnia, and it affects my mental health. At the beginning, I found myself crying for no reason and was getting very tired, especially at the end of my shift, so I adjusted my working hours, which has helped greatly.”

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Karen emphasised the importance of the new advocacy role. “Being a Menopause Advocate at Practice Plus Group allows me to create a safe space for anyone who wants to talk. Talking to my Line Manager and getting support has been really beneficial, and I’d encourage others to do the same.”

For Molly Steadman, advocacy is driven by empathy. Having experienced a long journey with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), she understands the impact of hormonal health on wellbeing. 

“Even though I’m not experiencing menopause yet, I wanted to ensure colleagues feel supported and heard,” she said. “The role is about providing a safe, confidential space where staff can be open about challenges, offering empathy and practical support.”

The new advocacy role is part of a wider programme across South West NHS 111, which has signed the Menopause Workplace Pledge organised by the charity Wellbeing of Women. The pledge commits organisations to recognise menopause as a workplace issue, encourage open conversations, and actively support affected staff.

To mark Menopause Awareness Month, the centre is also providing wellness bags containing items such as fans, cooling sprays, and menopause tea. Awareness events are planned throughout October, including fundraising activities like coffee mornings and a menopause walk, with proceeds supporting continued advocacy work.

Nadene Hawker, Communications and Engagement Lead for Integrated Urgent Care, said: “It’s shaping up to be a visible campaign that shows staff they are supported. We hope this model can be adopted more widely across Practice Plus Group to benefit even more colleagues and their families.”

The initiative complements wider wellness measures, including a new lightweight uniform range to help staff manage symptoms like hot flushes and tailored Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for menopause, offering strategies to manage anxiety and low mood associated with perimenopause.

NHS 111 South West, part of Practice Plus Group, provides urgent health advice across Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and North Somerset.

This new advocacy scheme positions Exeter at the forefront of workplace menopause awareness, highlighting the importance of open conversation, practical support, and staff wellbeing in healthcare environments.