St Martins Practice will be offering a group consultation to those experiencing symptoms that could be due to the Perimenopause or Menopause.
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.
This will be a (approximately)1hr and 30min session.
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 3rd floor. Please arrive and check in at 6.20pm at our 2nd 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are group clinics?
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.
Q: Who can attend the Menopause group consultations?
Q: Will I need to do anything to prepare?
Q: What happens at a group clinic?
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.
Q: What’s the benefit of a group clinic?
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.
Q: Do I consent to participate?
Q: Can I still have a one to one telephone or face to face consultation with my doctor or nurse?
Q: What happens if I am late joining?
Q: How do I know a group clinic is for me?
Q: What happens if I don’t want to say anything in a group clinic?
Q: What happens if I change my mind when I’m in a group clinic?
Q: How is my health information kept confidential during a group?
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.
Q: Will there be any follow up after the group clinic?
Q: Can patients get together and form their own groups after a group clinic?
Any other questions?
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.