GPs have renewed calls for a structured programme of care in general practice to treat menopause symptoms as part of a more comprehensive approach to women’s healthcare.
Although the issue is referred to in the Programme for Government, there is a lack of clarity concerning timelines.
Since the topic was discussed on RTÉ’s Liveline in 2021, demand for menopause-related care and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has risen significantly, according to Tipperary-based GP Dr Lucia Gannon.
“More and more younger women are looking for HRT care,” Dr Gannon told the Medical Independent (MI). She added that the discussions about menopause are much more common than in the past.
“This is affecting demand, which is increasing all the time. But consultations around the menopause and the commencement of HRT are complex and lengthy.”
Several consultations are often required to ensure a patient is on the correct dose of HRT and close patient monitoring is needed, Dr Gannon stressed.
In June, the Department of Health approved the introduction of free HRT at the point of access in pharmacies, a move that has led to further awareness around menopause and a surge in demand for menopause care.
While Dr Gannon welcomed the establishment of complex regional menopausal clinics, designed to treat complex symptoms, she said that there are long waiting lists to be
seen in these clinics, of which there are just
six nationally. “There is added pressure in general practice to provide menopause services because of the lack of secondary care services,” she said.
Dr Gannon added that a structured care programme in general practice would make the process “much easier” for patients and GPs.
Dr Madeleine Ní Dhálaigh, a GP based in Roscommon and member of the IMO GP committee, said that the introduction of structured care for menopause in general practice did not appear to be on the Government agenda at present.
“Up to a few years ago, you couldn’t give away HRT, even if you wanted to provide it. There was a lot of fear around it. Luckily there is more awareness now about how HRT can be helpful. But, as a result of that, GPs have been really busy seeing women who are attending with menopause symptoms and require time and special attention with regard to their individual case,” Dr Ní Dhálaigh said.
She described the Government’s approach to women’s healthcare to date as “piecemeal” and called for a model of care to support women throughout all stages of their life.
The need for a structured approach to women’s health was discussed at the IMO AGM in Killarney in April.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health told the MI that “significant progress” had been made in improving supports for menopause “driven by the women’s health taskforce and the Women’s Health Action Plans, launched in 2022 and 2024 respectively”.
The spokesperson highlighted the dedicated web page for anyone affected by menopause in Ireland (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/campaigns/menopause/).
They confirmed that under the Programme for Government, more developments are planned.
The Programme commits to increasing the number of menopause clinics and the development of a model of care for menopause.
“Officials are currently in the early phases of exploring options for delivering on our Programme for Government commitment to provide a comprehensive women’s health programme in general practice,” said the spokesperson.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.