Further information regarding the Women’s Health Hub in Waltham Forest
Following the introduction of the single point of access for the Whipps Cross area in August 2024, GPs in Waltham Forest & Redbridge are referring women to the Whipps Cross Hospital Women’s Health Hub and weekly clinics will commence in April 2025.
The Hub forms part of a wider Women’s Health Strategy for England, which aims to improve women’s health over the next 10 years and encourages the expansion of Women’s Health Hubs across the country. It is one of four Women’s Health Hubs which are now up and running across north east London.
Women’s Hubs bring together a range of different healthcare professionals and local services to support women with their health needs, including gynaecology, sexual health, pelvic pain, menopause care and more.
Following the success of the Barts Health Tower Hamlet’s Women’s Health Hub, which reduced patient waiting times by 33% and decreased appointment wait times from 27 to 11 weeks, Whipps Cross Hospital was commissioned to deliver a similar service for Waltham Forest and the surrounding Redbridge area.
The Waltham Forest service is accepting referrals for women across the borough. GPs can refer to the service or request advice through the e-Referral Service (e-RS) by selecting the following option:
Advice & Guidance – Gynaecology Women’s Health Hub – Whipps Cross – Barts Health NHS Trust – R1H
Referrals are clinically triaged and patients will either be referred into the Women’s Health Hub clinics, a secondary care gynaecology specialist clinic, or advice will be given back to the GP as to how to support them within primary care. This referral management system aims to reduce waiting times for assessment and treatment and improve access to specialist hospital treatment for those who need it.
The Hubs can support patients with many health issues including:
- Treatment for period problems including heavy, painful or irregular bleeding
- Care for conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Menopause treatment
- Pelvic pain
- Pelvic floor disorders and prolapse
- Premenstrual syndrome and Disorders
- Cervical screening
- Screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV
- Contraception
- Pre-conception care
- Leaking bladder or incontinence
- Breast pain assessment and care
- Pessary fitting and removal
Clinics have been held on weekends, with weekday capacity starting in April 2025. Recruitment for the Hub is underway for a multi-disciplinary team, including specialist consultants, GPs, physiotherapists, nursing, and support roles, who will deliver the service.
The service is led by Miss Nandita Deo, Clinical Lead Women’s Health Hub, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross Hospital.
Please look out for further updates about the new Hub and improvements to women’s health across north east London.
Contact details: bartshealth.wxh.womenshub@nhs.net