Ahead of Women's Health Week, Hunter New England Local Health District's Menopause Hub is celebrating its first anniversary, marking a year of life-changing support for women across the Hunter, New England, Mid North Coast, and Northern NSW regions living with severe and complex menopause symptoms.
Since opening in Newcastle in August 2024, the hub has received almost 700 referrals for women. The hub provides both in-person consultations and telehealth appointments, providing care as close to home as possible.
The service has supported women from Greater Newcastle, Tamworth and the North West, Mid North Coast, Hunter Valley, New England, and Manning regions. In person consultations have made up around 60 per cent of visits.
Early data shows measurable improvements in patient-reported outcomes, with a 30 per cent reduction in moderate to severe symptoms over a three-month period.
The hub's multidisciplinary team, including specialist doctors, women's health nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians, and clinical psychologists, also run menopause group education programs. Virtual pelvic floor classes will soon begin, as well as a virtual physiotherapist-led exercise program for women at risk of, or living with, osteopenia or osteoporosis.
General practitioners, specialists, and nurse practitioners can refer eligible women for advanced care, with in-person consultations available, along with telehealth support for those in rural areas.
