Referrals and appointments

Menopause Clinic Information

Referrals

The Menopause Clinic is a specialist secondary care service accepting referrals from GPs within the North West London Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Your Appointment

• Type of Appointment: Most are by telephone, but face-to-face or video consultations can be arranged if needed.
• Timing: Please be available up to one hour before and after your scheduled time, as timings may vary.
• Incoming Calls: Calls will come from 020 3315 8000 or may appear as withheld.
• Important: If you have call barring, voicemail divert, or Do Not Disturb enabled, you may miss the call and risk being marked as Did Not Attend (DNA) or discharged.

Health Questionnaires & Feedback

On behalf of the menopause & PMS service you may receive a text or email message from one of our digital solutions providers.

• Pre-appointment questionnaire: This information helps the clinician focus on your main symptoms and concerns. Please complete promptly.
• After your appointment: You may receive a short satisfaction survey (about 5 minutes). Your feedback is valuable.

Booking Your Appointment & Follow-Up

• Most patients are seen and treated in one appointment.
• If a follow-up is needed, you may be offered a Patient Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU), also called an open appointment.

What is a Patient Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU)?

PIFU helps reduce unnecessary hospital visits and gives patients direct access to the menopause & PMS team without needing to be re-referred by your GP. This means you can manage your condition independently and contact us for an appointment only if you feel it’s necessary. The length of your PIFU period will be agreed with your clinician and is stated in the clinic letter you received when you were placed on a PIFU pathway.

• You can make, change or cancel an appointment if your condition changes or you have concerns.

When is PIFU not used?

• Postmenopausal vaginal bleeding: Contact your GP urgently or call NHS 111.
• Feeling suicidal: Contact your GP, A&E, or Samaritans (NHS Mental Health).
• New symptoms or urgent advice: Contact your GP or call NHS 111.
• Prescription issues or shortages: Contact your GP or call NHS 111.
• Missing letters or results: About your online health records  or Email chelwest.gynaecology.admin@nhs.net 
• Requesting investigations: Request an investigation

Contact Information

• GPs: Request advice and guidance via electronic referral system (eRS) or appropriate channels.
• Current patients: Email chelwest.gynaecology.admin@nhs.net for administrative queries. These will be forwarded to the clinical team if appropriate.