Woke row explodes over NHS 'male menopause' leave with men able to claim A YEAR in sick pay

Male menopause – also referred to as “andropause” in the trusts’ guidance – should be treated in the same manner as female menopause, the guidance states.

This means recognising symptoms of menopause found in women, such as hot flushes and changes in emotional temperament.

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The guidelines state that managers should give support – such as providing portable fans and altering uniforms – in order to ease symptoms.

Those deemed to be suffering badly can even be given paid leave if they are unable to work.

The polices have been deemed “wasteful”, after it was revealed by the Telegraph that men working for the East Midlands Ambulance Service are reportedly allowed to take up to a year off if experiencing “menopausal-like symptoms”.

Tina Richardson, deputy director of human resources at East Midlands Ambulance Service, said: “As well as having menopause guidance we also support anyone within the organisation who is affected directly or indirectly by the andropause.

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“We provide occupational sick pay for up to 12 months based on service length.

“That will support absences which may result from symptoms of the andropause or where time off for medical appointments is required."

Critics have slammed the policy and the NHS, saying that the public health body was “ignoring biological reality”.

Helen Joyce, director of advocacy, Sex Matters, said it “beggars belief” would support this policy.

She said: “This is part of an overall trend in HR to ignore, even deny, biological reality.

“Men don't experience menopause, and so this policy is both silly and wasteful. When money is tight it's best used to solve real issues, not invented ones.”

The NHS denied yesterday (October 3) that the policy was a national one.

It said: “This label is misleading because it suggests the symptoms are the result of a sudden drop in testosterone in middle age, similar to what occurs in the female menopause. This is not true.”

It pointed critics to its website, where it suggests that “male menopause” is not a condition.

Instead, the NHS has labelled it as “unhelpful term sometimes used in the media”.

Last month, the NHS created 200 new diversity and inclusivity roles.

The creation of three new departments has been proposed: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, People and Culture, and People and Communities, with 244 posts across the three teams.