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Women’s Health: A new model of care

Today is World Menopause Day, an opportunity to raise awareness of menopause and improve women’s health and wellbeing in general, which is precisely what we have been focusing on across north east London. Following the positive response received from our first North East London Women’s Health & Wellbeing Conference last week, we are excited to share how we are developing and improving women’s health services across our integrated care system. 

Women’s health is broadly defined as the physical and mental health concerns that are specific to women, including reproductive health, safety, and diseases that affect female reproductive organs. It also encompasses broader issues such as cardiovascular diseases, social and economic disparities, and the impact of cultural practices on women’s health.

Most people are familiar with things like maternity services, but it is really important we raise the profile of all women’s health services, to empower women to come forward to receive the help and support they need but might not be receiving.

Across north east London, new women’s health hubs have been opening. These health hubs are community-based services that provide treatment and wellbeing support and manage referrals into hospitals and other secondary care if required. Some hubs are not based in a building or place, and while they may operate virtually, women can be seen or treated in person. Women presenting to their GP with a women’s health issue will be referred to a hub by their GP.

The hubs take a life course approach to women’s health, where care is not limited to treating a single condition, but is based on what can often be multiple needs of an individual woman. For example, hubs can provide management of contraception and heavy menstrual bleeding in one visit, or include cervical screening with other aspects of women’s healthcare.

The first Women’s Health Hub opened in City and Hackney several years ago. It runs virtual engagement events and a resident-led Menopause Café. Residents can register their place via Eventbrite or they can just come along and have their questions answered by a women’s health professional.

New hubs have also opened in Barking, Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge. Regional Gynaecology leads Dr Ishi Bains, Dr Rehan Khan and Dr Janet Barter led the local development of the Tower Hamlets hub, which opened last year, bringing together primary care, sexual reproductive health, gynaecology and physiotherapy. This single point of access ensures that women are seen faster, in the right place first time. Whipps Cross Hospital will also launch clinics from November 2024.

Women say:

‘I loved that I could have a scan and biopsy all on the same day and come back to speak to someone about my results.’

‘I am very pleased to know that such a place exists as a woman, and we are able to have a detailed conversation with a doctor who is able to explain everything in detail. Please keep this available for women.’

We’re proud to have Dr Sue Mann not only as a local leader for the City and Hackney Women’s Health Hub but also as the national clinical director for Women’s Health, working to shape national strategy and support local service delivery.

We are now looking at how we redesign existing community gynaecology services in Newham.

As well as developing services for women, we are also supporting training, education and development in Women’s Health for health and social care professionals, and commissioning insights reports to help inform future development plans and address inequalities.

We want women to feel that their health needs are being listened to and we want to encourage women to share their health problems knowing they will be referred to the right service in a timely way, and that they’ll have a positive experience.

This especially includes understanding the reasons that women from certain groups, backgrounds, cultures or religions do not appear to access these services. This was explored at the conference last week and we will work with our partners to further improve services for women in north east London

Claire Hogg, Director of Planned Care & Women’s Health Champion, NHS North East London 

Cate Onanda, Women’s Health Programme Manager, NHS North East London 

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