St Martins Practice will be offering a group consultation to those experiencing symptoms that could be due to the Perimenopause or Menopause.

This will be a (approximately)1hr and 30min session.

It will include a presentation on what is the Menopause and Perimenopause, how they may be experienced and different ways to manage the challenges that can come with these life stages.

It aims to ensure our patients have enough information to make the right choices for themselves and get support from the right health professional.

The clinic will be run by Dr Gordon with support, and will take place in the community room at St Martins Practice on our 3^rd floor. Please arrive and check in at 6.20pm at our 2^nd floor reception on the evening of your clinic.

There will be the space to discuss your own experiences.  It will be a confidential space.

It will be followed up by a further appointment with a health professional.

Scroll down for FAQs

A: Group clinics are a way for you to spend more time with your specialist or community doctor, advanced care practitioner, nurse or GP, get your one to one review and get answers to your questions alongside others living with similar health issues. You may also get advice from specialist nurses and doctors, pharmacists, physiotherapists, dieticians, social prescribing link workers, care coordinator and health coaches in this way.

You spend longer with the clinician than you would in a one to one appointment. People find having more time for questions and the chance to learn from other people’s experiences and share their own mean they learn more, cope better and often succeed in keeping themselves well.

A: Women and trans/non-binary people with a womb who wish to discuss how to manage the perimenopause and menopause.

A: We will ask you to provide some information in advance about your perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms either using the balance app https://www.balance-menopause.com/   or a questionnaire.

A: At your group clinic you get the clinical review and support you need. You get answers to your specific questions and there is group discussion about health issues too.

The session lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. There are usually 6-8 people in a group.

Once you have arrived at your appointment, a member of the clinic team who is running the  group clinic will greet you. The facilitator’s job is to keep the group together and make sure the clinic stays on track.

They will ask you to confirm your identity and check you are happy to take part. Then they will start the session by reminding everyone in the group to keep information confidential and to follow some simple group rules or understandings that help you to get the most out of the clinic and your time with your clinician.

Each member of the group introduces themselves. There will be a presentation on the menopause and different ways to manage it by Dr Gordon. There will be time for questions. You will all get to benefit from hearing each other’s questions and the response to these. The session wraps up after 90 minutes and you get the chance to reflect on what you have learnt and what you want to do next to keep well. We ask you to complete a questionnaire that will help us plan next steps to support you.

A: Group clinics are a very engaging consultation model for people with a whole range of health care issues. They are a real and better alternative for many people.

Group Clinics are up and running all over the UK. They have proved popular. People say that they enjoy hearing the experiences and getting advice from other people in a similar situation. They also like having longer with the clinician to talk about their concerns and for questions. They enjoy sharing what has worked for them with others and hearing about others’ successes. They feel less isolated and alone, managing their health issues.

A: Yes, there is a consent process in place and this helps you and others stay safe and preserves the whole group’s confidentiality.

A: If you feel unable to attend a group clinic please do contact us using our online form to discuss any worries or difficulties you may have. We may be able to offer a more traditional one to one appointment however, there may be a wait for this appointment.

A: Our policy is please arrive 5 minutes before the group clinic is about to start to register. If you are more than 5 minutes late we unfortunately will not be able to admit you to the clinic as you will not have been consented to that particular group with your peers. We will however rebook you on to the next group clinic. This is because it is important that everyone is checked in, consents and signs up to the group understandings at the start. It is very disruptive for the group when people join late. If you are late, get in touch and we will book you into another group clinic.

A: You won’t know until you give it a go! People tell us they really enjoy the experience. Group clinics might not suit everyone. If you are feeling anxious beforehand, let the facilitator know. It is also OK to join a group and just listen and see if it is for you. You can even join in and decide to leave if it isn’t right for you. At any point if you want to leave a group, you can do.

A: Do let your facilitator know if you are feeling worried about being in a group. It is OK to join a group to just listen. You will still learn a lot and many people who do this and end up joining in once they feel comfortable.

A: If you feel the group clinic isn’t working for you, let the facilitator know. You can leave at any time. The team asks for feedback at the end of every group clinic so let your facilitator know if you think things could be improved.

A: We assure this in three ways. First, before the group, all participants are sent an agreement to not to share any information discussed within the group. Unlike the confidentiality regulations surrounding a doctor’s obligation to keep all information confidential, this is not enforceable by law. However, as all participants will be sharing personal information, it is in everyone’s interests to respect this.

Second, when you arrive at the group clinic, the facilitator asks you to consent to share limited and relevant information about your condition with the group. You consent verbally and will be sent the patient agreement ahead of the session to read and raise any questions you may have with the Care Coordinator.

Third, the clinic team makes a record that you have consented and notes this in your computer record.  

A Following the session you will be asked to complete a questionnaire. Based on your response we will arrange follow up with the correct health professional or signpost you to an organization which can provide support.

A: Yes. Some people find that they get on really well, form friendships and want to carry on meeting to support each other after they meet at group clinics. Getting involved if this happens is your choice.  Being part of a support group helps some people stick to their goals and keep motivated to make lifestyle changes that may help with you manage your condition and recovery. Your clinician can refer you to support groups that already exist. Ask about this if you are interested.  

If you have other questions or if you have been to a group clinic and want to add to this list of questions to help other patients, please get in touch with your clinic team. Thank you.