This report explores women’s experiences of menopause advice and treatment from GP practices in Solihull. It highlights inconsistent information, limited access to specialist support, and a lack of awareness among some healthcare professionals. Healthwatch Solihull will continue to work with NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB and other partners to raise awareness, improve service accessibility, and support the development of better menopause care across the area.
This report is based on feedback about three key areas:
- Access to consultations
- Preference for type and gender of health practitioner
- Ability to make informed choices
The report highlights areas for improvement in women’s access to appropriate support and treatment.
General Practice and NHS BSol ICB need to act and are asked how they will:
- Increase awareness of menopause symptoms and encourage women to seek appointments to discuss their symptoms.
- Provide women consistency in who they see and the choice to speak with a female health practitioner.
- Enable faster access to practitioners who are confident and knowledgeable about menopause, who have up-to-date training and awareness of menopausal symptoms and treatments.
- Ensure women can make informed choices. This requires correct information and the time to discuss treatment options. Individuals need alternative treatment options for managing symptoms where HRT is not an option.
Our report shows that focusing on the above areas would make the biggest difference to people seeking support and treatment for menopause symptoms. We look forward to working with NHS BSOL ICB to create the actions that they will take, which will then be monitored and documented in our follow-up report.
We’ve started talking with NHS BSOL ICB to find out how the report will be used and what needs to be done to help local women. This includes using it to help develop and identify the gaps in menopausal services. It may also be used to inform public campaigns. These will help to raise awareness, fight stigma relating to menopause, and make sure communities understand what services are available to them and how to access them.
If you would like to learn more about menopause and where to get help, the following resources may be useful:
- Understanding Menopause booklet (English, Welsh, Polish) – evidence-based information on menopause symptoms and treatment options.
- NICE Guidelines on Menopause and British Menopause Society Top Tips – guidance used by healthcare professionals.
- Menopause Knowledge – a local community-led group offering meet-ups and peer support to help you manage symptoms and speak confidently with your GP.
Watch Sally’s Experience: Accessing GP Support for Menopausal Symptoms
In this video, Sally shares her personal experience of trying to access GP support for her menopausal symptoms. Her story is one of several that informed our report.
📺 Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/IsC6jTrtRKQ