Frome Medical Practice is running a series of women’s health sessions this autumn.
The sessions are being run as a result of three focus groups which were held last year with a number of women across Frome.
Julie Carey-Downes, the Health Connections Team Lead who is coordinating the focus on women’s health at the practice, said, “We gathered feedback from professionals working in women’s health. These conversations gave us invaluable feedback on services we currently offer to women and highlighted what other kinds of support women wanted to see from us.”
As a result, practice has developed a new ‘Navigating Menopause’ six-week group programme, offering education and support to help women feel informed and empowered through the menopause transition.
The practice has also scheduled a calendar of events for the autumn, which focus on topics highlighted during the focus groups, including Cervical Screening Saturday clinics on 13th and 20th September from 8.40am to 11.50am, to make it easier for women to book these important appointments. Appointments can be prebooked via the NHS App, or are drop-in.
A ‘Well Woman’ information stand, with lots of information on further women’s health support and resources, will also be held at the practice on 13th and 20th September.
Further events coming this autumn include a series of educational talks, led by GPs from the practice as well as guest speakers, and a dedicated Green & Healthy radio show / podcast, sharing everything happening in the practice and wider community around women’s health.
Existing services include the HRT Group Discussions for women considering starting HRT (booking essential, held monthly) and the Young People’s Clinic, offering mental health and sexual health support for 13 to 19-year-olds. These are weekly drop-in sessions, every Wednesday from 3pm to 5pm at the practice.
Julie said, “This work forms part of our ongoing focus on continuity, where feedback indicates patients want to build consistent, trusted relationships with healthcare professionals who know their history.
“We’ve also listened to the conversations we’ve been having with women over the last few months and we are really pleased to be offering this focus on women’s health during the autumn and beyond. We hope this will meet some of the needs that were identified to us and that people will join in with the many events we’ve got lined up.”
Details of the educational talks are as follows:
Thursday 2nd October, from 6pm to 7pm, women’s health for the under 25s with Dr Jess Rutherford from Frome Medical Practice.
Wednesday 8th October, 6pm to 7pm, menstrual health and what’s normal with Dr Alice Gallen from Frome Medical Practice.
Thursday 23rd October, time to be confirmed, positive periods with Chella Quint, a leading expert on menstruation literacy.
Tuesday 28th October, time to be confirmed, pelvic health session with Joanna Stanton, Pelvic Health Physiotherapist.
More details about all these services and booking links for the events can be found on the practice website at fromemedicalpractice.co.uk/news/womens-health-events
