Researchers at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) have been awarded a national grant to examine menopause support for healthcare workers in the East of England.
The BOOST Study is a new project funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The work of the researchers at NSFT will lay the groundwork for a future programme to provide further workplace support for women experiencing the menopause.
The first phase of the BOOST project will focus on learning about the impacts of the menopause on nurses and midwives in all healthcare settings. The research will then expand with future projects focusing on the wider workforce.
Exploring the experiences of staff
Louise McCarthy, Research Nurse for NSFT and joint lead on the BOOST project, said: “Menopause can have a significant impact on health, wellbeing and working life.
“The BOOST project aims to explore the lived experiences and views of nurses and midwives experiencing menopause in the workplace, with a focus on what works well and where improvements are needed with support offered by the workplace.”
The importance of support
Chief Nurse Anthony Deery said: “More than 70% of our workforce at NSFT are women so our menopause support has been crucial.
“The Women’s Network and our wellbeing team have worked really hard over the last three years to build this programme, leading up to being named Menopause and Menstruation Friendly Employer of the Year for 2025, which is a great testimony to them.
“We hope the BOOST project led by our research team, will lead to more organisations across the NHS recognising the importance of menopause support for supporting and retaining our nursing and other healthcare staff.”
Other local partner organisations working on the BOOST project include the East of England Ambulance Service, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Trust, Norfolk Community and Health Care, and the University of East Anglia.
For more information, email the NSFT BOOST project team here.