On the 8th of October, 2022, over 100 healthcare professionals, including GPs, practice nurses, and secondary care colleagues, gathered at the International Conference Centre in Newport for a day dedicated to shared learning about menopause. This successful conference was born from an idea by a small group of Menopause Specialists from Wales, who met at a British Menopause Society (BMS) conference the previous year and felt the need for a similar event in Wales. Their planning and coordination through WhatsApp led to the realization of this ambitious event.
The organizers aimed to hold a hybrid event that could also be partially open to the public. The agenda was carefully crafted to ensure that the morning talks and presentations would be of interest to both healthcare professionals and the public. The morning sessions featured speakers with lived experiences of menopause, as well as politicians and policy makers.
Eluned Morgan, MS and Health Minister for Wales, opened the conference, expressing her hopes for a Women’s Health Plan that ensures equitable access to menopause care. Jenny Rathbone MS, Chair of the Cross-Party Group on Women’s Health, emphasized the importance of collaborative working and listening to women’s voices.
The audience also heard from representatives of Fair Treatment of the Women of Wales (FTWW), TUC Cymru, and Unison. They discussed the impact of menopause in the workplace, employer responsibilities, and employee rights. The morning sessions were well-received and included positive live feedback from public members who joined via the WMN Facebook page.
The afternoon session, exclusive to in-person attendees, focused on clinical updates for healthcare professionals. Dr. Haitham Hamoda, the outgoing BMS President, provided an update on the latest developments in menopause care. The session included comprehensive talks on Premature Ovarian Insufficiency, HRT and Cancer, Osteoporosis, Management of Unscheduled Bleeding, and Urogenital Health. Debra Holloway, nurse consultant from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and past chair of the RCN Women’s Health Forum, gave an excellent update on Menopause and Mental Health.
Feedback from the day was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees particularly appreciating the opportunity to network and meet in person. The conference was heavily subsidized by generous support from pharmaceutical companies, which helped make the event accessible. The success of this event has led to plans for it to become an annual gathering, with the next conference scheduled for 2023 in North Wales.
The conference was a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of addressing menopause education and support for both healthcare professionals and the public.
