Cllr Evelyn Parsons has welcomed confirmation that the specialist complex menopause clinic has commenced at University Hospital Galway.
The service became operational this week and is now accepting GP referrals for Galway and the HSE West Region.
A consultant, GP and administration support have been appointed, and a clinical nurse manager has also been recruited to work in the service.
The clinic will run for one afternoon per week, and it will see up to ten women with complex menopause needs who require clinical specialist management.
The majority of women with uncomplicated menopausal symptoms will continue to be managed by their own GPs, but Cllr Parsons said that some women with distinct complex needs will benefit greatly from referral to this new specialist menopause service.
In response to questions put by Cllr Parsons to the Regional Health Forum this week, A. Cosgrove, COO, Saolta University Health Care Group, confirmed that the service has now defined the referral criteria and letters regarding same have been sent to inform GPs.
“I am delighted to welcome the opening of the Specialist Menopause Clinic – the First Specialist Menopause Clinic for Women in the West Region – an essential service in my view and which I have raised repeatedly with the HSE,” said Independent Cllr Parsons.
“I welcome this hugely significant step forward for the care of women in the western region and it also will serve as a clinical support resource for GPs in the management of their patients.”
