New endometriosis clinics open nationwide

All of the Federal Government’s 33 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics are now open, with 11 new clinics rolling out across the country.
 
Each clinic operates within an existing general practice with GPs providing multidisciplinary care for women and girls living with endometriosis, pelvic pain, perimenopause and menopause.   
 
The program has already proven popular among patients, with the initial network of 22 clinics supporting more than 10,000 women and girls and providing more than 28,000 services.
 
Victorian GP Dr Myra Mpungu works in her practice’s women’s clinic and said it is ‘always very full’ and booked with a wide spectrum of patients.
 
‘A lot of them, they come back and say they’re just relieved, at least they were heard – they can put a name to what’s going on, then maybe we can look for treatment,’ she said.
 
‘Definitely, there was a gap, which we’re filling now. It’s going well.
 
‘It has helped in that we’ve been able to have a focused field and focused people. Our clinic nurse, she’s fantastic, she arranges all the appointments and so on, and we managed to take our time and do it in that environment.’
 
The clinics are part of the Federal Government’s $793 million women’s health package revealed in the lead-up to last year’s Federal Election.
 
Federal Health and Ageing Assistant Minister Rebecca White said the milestone means there is now one clinic operating in every Primary Health Network.
 
‘This is an enormous achievement that’s been driven by the stories of women who told us that for too long, they thought they’d been dismissed or their health was not taken seriously,’ she said.
 
‘And from 1 July, these clinics will all expand to also provide perimenopause and menopause services … so that women can finally find the care they deserve and in a way that’s affordable for them to access.
 
‘What I want, at the end of the day, is for any woman anywhere in Australia to be able to walk in and see a health professional and be taken seriously and know that the person they’re speaking with has the skills and education to be able to respond appropriately.’
 
An evaluation of the clinics is currently underway to determine how best to support the treatment and management of people with co-existing conditions, such as endometriosis.
 
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endometriosis menopause pelvic pain perimenopause women’s health