An innovative email service for health staff is helping women get treatment more quickly for menopausal symptoms.

The consultant Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) staff working at Sandyford set up a Menopause email advice service for GPs, pharmacists and practice nurses (Primary Care Services) in 2019.

Sandyford is the specialist sexual health service for the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) area, which is hosted by Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).

This service was established in response to increased referrals and enquiries about menopause. Clinicians email their enquiries about menopause symptoms, treatments and side effects for advice and to check if a referral to Sandyford is appropriate.

A Sandyford consultant on-call answers the majority of emails received within 48 hours.

Kay McAllister, Consultant Sexual and Reproductive Health at the Sandyford said: “Our aim was to provide timely specialist advice regarding HRT doses and regimes, to help menopausal women receive care from their GP, practice nurse or community pharmacist. This reduced the need for women to wait to attend specialist clinics.

“There’s been a huge demand for menopause care, partly due to increased media awareness and partly due to a backlog after the Covid pandemic. The majority of patients should be able to discuss this and start HRT if they wish in Primary Care.”

In the first year, 151 emails were received. In 2023, this increased to 2,370. All replies to emails are from Consultants in Sandyford, and all within 2 working days. This has been well received by all primary care staff shown by the daily emails of thanks from primary care staff dealing with menopausal women and the prescribing of HRT.

An NHSGGC GP said: “I just wanted to comment on the support I’ve received as a GP from the menopause advice. They provide a genuinely outstanding service – not only in the quality of their responses but also the speed with which they reply. I’ve rarely waited more than hours for a comprehensive response to my query. At a time where most NHS services are struggling to meet patient/primary care demand, it’s almost unbelievable a service of this quality exists.”

Rhoda MacLeod, our HSCP’s Head of Adult Services for Sexual Health Services, Police Custody and Prison Healthcare said: “This service has led to better initial menopause management for women and a reduction in inappropriate referrals to the specialist menopause clinic at Sandyford. This has been a valued service development, illustrated by the increased use of the email service, and the frequent replies expressing thanks and appreciation. I want to say a special thank you to Kay and the Sandyford SHR Consultants for getting this service established and running so well.”

“This initiative helps us work towards the Scottish Government’s  Womens Health Plan targets, providing timely menopause care to all those requiring it.”

Patients themselves can access a wide range of menopausal advice via the NHS Inform website at Menopause | NHS inform.