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Practice for sale formPatients with complex or severe menopause can now access comprehensive, multidisciplinary support. This service is provided through South Western Sydney Local Health District’s (SWSLHD) Specialist Menopause Service at no cost.
The service offers:
- Specialist medical support (Endocrinology, Gynaecology, Rheumatology, Haematology)
- Allied health support (Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Mental Health Worker – Social Work, Clinical Psychology)
- Nursing care (Clinical Nurse Consultant)
Specialist Menopause Service patient eligibility
This service is designed for patients experiencing complex or severe menopause. Patients must meet one or more of the following criteria to be eligible.
- under 40 years old
- has a genetic risk of breast or gynaecological malignancies
- unresponsive to menopause replacement therapies for six weeks with GP follow-up
- has a complex medical history (such as venous thromboembolism [VTE], ischemic heart disease [IHD], or acute myocardial infarction [AMI], stroke, or high risk of cancer or fracture
- has complex health issues which make commencing menopausal hormone therapy difficult
How to refer patients
Patients must have a GP referral to access the service.
GPs can download and complete a referral form from HealthPathways or the SWSPHN website to their clinical software.
What to expect
Specialist Menopause Service is provided through telehealth or face-to-face through pre-arrangement when telehealth is not available.
Once the GP submits the referral form for their patient, the SWSLHD Specialist Menopause Service Coordinator will review the referral for eligibility and multidisciplinary team clinician requirements.
Eligible patients
The coordinator will determine which specialist input is required and schedule appointments with the patient. The referring GP will receive discharge correspondence or review requirements.
Ineligible patients
Case conferencing will be offered to the GP when the patient is determined ineligible.
GP case conferencing when patient does not meet eligibility criteria
GP case conferencing provides access to Medicare bulk-billed specialist care for patients who do not meet the criteria for severe/complex menopause despite having trialled therapy as outlined on the menopause HealthPathways page. This is a one-off consultation with an opportunity for GPs to increase their confidence.
How GP case conferencing works
- GPs can download a referral form on HealthPathways or the SWSPHN website to their clinical software. Complete the form and securely send to SWSLHD (instructions are written on the form).
- Once SWSLHD has received the referral, the menopause team will determine which specialists are required and contact the referring practice to arrange a date and time for a GP case conference with the GP and patient. Attendance via telehealth or GP rooms is available
- GP and panel will discuss the patient’s case and options for care/management.
- (optional) The patient is then invited (from online or waiting room) into the consultation and GP clarifies clinical information and presents patient with management options
- Patient has opportunity to ask questions of the panel
- Menopause specialists will send dot point/brief GP management plan summary to GP
- GP documents consultations
- Consultation complete
- GP manually records CPD hours if needed
MenoECHO – bimonthly webinar
MenoECHO is an online webinar series held every two months, where a panel of experts discusses patient cases. Participants can engage in interactive webinar chats and ask the expert panel questions about the cases being discussed.
You can redeem CPD points through MenoECHO, which manages the process.
Sign up at Health NSW to join MenoECHO
For enquiries, contact the SWSLHD Specialist Menopause Service Coordinator
Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm except public holidays
Email: SWSLHD-SpecialistMenopauseService@health.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 0472 607 238
This service on one of four funded by NSW Health as a thee-year pilot study which began in June 2024.