Our report indicates that women in Solihull are not receiving sufficient information, diagnosis and treatment in primary care for menopause symptoms.
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.