THE Welsh Government has promised to create a network of women’s health hubs, bringing menopause, contraception and menstrual health services closer to home.
The aim is that by March, there will be a hub in every health board, tailored to meet local needs. Some will operate over multiple sites and others will be accessed online but they will all adhere to the same “holistic” approach to women’s health. Each health board has been granted £300,000 to develop the hubs.
Last week, Bridgend MS Sarah Murphy, the Minister with responsibility for Women’s Health, met women and clinicians at Hywel Dda University Health Board – the first pilot hub at Padarn Surgery, Aberystwyth. Later, she visited a hub in Swansea.
Ms Murphy said: “The two different provisions I visited in Swansea and Aberystwyth reflect the wide variety of ways health boards are meeting the brief of tackling health inequalities and making sure women’s symptoms are not dismissed.”
The Aberystwyth clinic is GP and nurse led, offering menopause, menstrual health and contraception services alongside already established pelvic physiotherapy and bladder and bowel services.
On her second visit, the Minister attended an open physio session for women in Swansea on pelvic floor health. The session is a new service – part of the virtual hub being developed by Swansea Bay UHB.
Mr Alan Treharne, Consultant Gynaecologist at Hywel Dda University Health Board and Clinical Director for the Ceredigion Community and Integrated Medicine Group, said: “The pilot at Padarn Surgery is working well and we are looking forward to developing seven women’s health hubs based around our seven GP clusters across the Hywel Dda area.
“As clinicians developing these health hubs, we believe it gives us the ability to deliver care faster, more holistically and with high standards. We are pleased that Welsh Government has given us the funding to develop the hubs.”
Dr Helen Munro, Clinical Lead, National Strategic Network for Women’s Health, said: “By bringing menopause, menstrual health, contraception and pelvic health services together in one accessible, community‑based model, we are removing barriers that have too often prevented women from getting timely support.
“What matters most is that these hubs have been shaped by women’s experiences and designed around the realities of their lives.”
The hubs are part the Women’s Health Plan for Wales that was published last year. The plan includes over 60 actions across eight priority areas to improve healthcare for women throughout their lifetime, based on feedback from around 4,000 women across Wales. The performance of the hubs will be evaluated later this year.
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