Women's health hub making a real difference to lives in Sunderland

More than 1200 women have visited the Pallion based Women's Health Hub since it opened earlier this year with funding from North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Speaking after her visit, Councillor Alison Smith, Sunderland City Council's Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Equalities, said: "It has been great to see first-hand this fantastic facility and to hear about how it is benefiting women in Sunderland.

"This Women's Health Hub is one of only three in the North East and North Cumbria and since it opened earlier this year, over 1200 women have used it for a range of services.

"I've heard about the real difference it is making to women's lives and how people are benefiting from being able access a whole range of services in one place rather than having to attend multiple appointments at different locations.

"It was also good to hear about how the hub is able to benefit women who might find it harder to use services.

"As a council we are committed to working with our partners to improve the lives of women and girls, so we were delighted that the ICB funded the Women's Health hub in support of this ambition. Having a facility like this on our doorstep is fantastic for women and girls across Sunderland."

Supported by a £250,000 investment from North East and North Cumbria ICB and developed with healthcare partners across the city, the hub offers expert menopause advice, long-acting contraception fitting, and where appropriate, cervical screening, from its base at Hylton Medical Group in Pallion.

Councillor Smith was also able to find out about the hub's latest innovation, an experienced team of sonographers who provide on-site ultrasound scans of the pelvis, uterus and ovaries. This helps to shorten diagnostic waiting times for tests requested by GP practices, as well as providing a seamless service to women visiting the hub by ensuring a required ultrasound scan is provided at same visit or shortly after their women's hub appointment. The hub team plans to train nurses and GPs to carry out ultrasound scans to the same standards as qualified sonographers.

Claire Riley, the ICB's chief corporate services officer and women's health lead, said: "It's great that Councillor Smith was able to see what a difference the hub is already making for women in Sunderland. We want our region to be a driving force for better women's health - listening, understanding and supporting women's distinctive health needs better than in the past. Sunderland women's health hub is an important part of making that vision a reality."

Women can access the Sunderland hub through their GP practice. This can be done by a receptionist, there is no need to see the doctor first. Where women have more complex needs like problems with HRT side effects or other conditions that might affect which type of HRT is suitable, they may be also be referred by their GP.