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We’re opening up about menopause at work

At Bupa, we’ve signed up to the Menopause Workplace Pledge – a campaign from Wellbeing of Women. To ensure that our people feel supported when dealing with their symptoms at work, we’re making it easier for them to talk openly, positively and respectfully about menopause. And for every Menopause Plan we sell, we’ll donate 5% to the charity.

Menopause Plan

Get the personalised menopause support you need from a Bupa GP
specially trained in menopause, including an individual care plan.
Choose a face to face, phone or video appointment.


Our Menopause Plan offers menopause treatment for your symptoms, so you don't have to go it alone

Full plan + ongoing support for 12 months. All for £250.

Call us on 0800 322 4566^ to find out about your menopause treatment options or to book.

Book online

What’s included in our personalised Menopause Plan?

Six simple steps to help you get more out of life.

Step 1

Our pre-appointment questionnaire and symptom-checker will help us to personalise your care

Step 2

You’ll spend 45 minutes with a GP specially trained in menopause

When you book, you can choose a face to face, video or phone appointment.

Step 3

If you need referring to a specialist, any tests or a prescription†, we can help arrange that for you

Step 4

You’ll receive a care plan to follow, based around your own personal needs

Step 5

12 weeks after your first GP appointment, you’ll have another 15-minute follow-up appointment.

Again, this can be face to face, phone or video. If possible, we’ll make sure this is with the same GP.

Step 6

For a year after your first appointment, you can get 24/7 support from our specially trained Bupa nurses

This is via our Anytime HealthLine. Your call can be about anything to do with the menopause.

It doesn't cost anything to find out about your menopause treatment options

Simply get in touch. We can explain everything and answer your questions.

How to book our Menopause Plan

Anyone can book our Menopause Plan. You can make an appointment direct with us, and there’s no need to go through your GP first.
When you book, you can choose whether you'd like a face to face, video or phone appointment.

 Call 0800 322 4566^

 Email us

 Book online

The Menopause Plan isn’t covered by Bupa health insurance. It’s an extra cost.

Please be aware that information you send to this email address may not be secure unless you send us your email through Egress Switch‡

View transcript
I'm Dr Petra Simic and have been a GP for over 15 years. I passionately believe that managing the menopause well should be a priority for all GP's and women. Over the years, I've seen hundreds of women struggling with a variety of symptoms of menopause and perimenopause. Many of them have read conflicting information about the menopause and how to treat symptoms and are unsure of what to believe and which next steps to take. At Bupa we understand that the menopause is a normal stage of life. However, we also know that many women experience symptoms which can make life difficult for them and that there are effective evidence based treatments available. Our research showed that women experiencing menopausal or perimenopausal symptoms need ongoing support, rather than just a one-off appointment. They want adequate time with a skilled professional, who will listen to their concerns and discuss what's available to them. I believe our Bupa menopause plan can help women understand their symptoms and navigate the best options to suit them. Our plans provide enough time to speak with specially trained GP's, who will work with women to create a personalised care plan, getting them the care they need, whether that be through a prescription, advice or a referral. As well as the 45 minute initial appointment, we also provide a 15 minute follow up appointment and 24/7, 365 support with our menopause trained Bupa nurses through our any time heath line. We believe it's essential that women feel empowered to seek advice, choose their treatment and take control of their health with the support of a trusted expert by their side. Bupa's plan to tackle the menopause is to provide as many women as possible with the support to regain control of their health and well being. Bupa's expert team are waiting to help you make your plan.

Talk to a GP trained in the full menopause experience

We believe that managing the menopause well should be a priority for all GPs and women.

Our Bupa Menopause Plan has been specifically designed to empower women to seek advice, choose their treatment and take control of their health.

Here Bupa’s Dr Petra Simic explains more about how we can help.

I'm Dr Petra Simic and have been a GP for over 15 years. I passionately believe that managing the menopause well should be a priority for all GP's and women. Over the years, I've seen hundreds of women struggling with a variety of symptoms of menopause and perimenopause. Many of them have read conflicting information about the menopause and how to treat symptoms and are unsure of what to believe and which next steps to take. At Bupa we understand that the menopause is a normal stage of life. However, we also know that many women experience symptoms which can make life difficult for them and that there are effective evidence based treatments available. Our research showed that women experiencing menopausal or perimenopausal symptoms need ongoing support, rather than just a one-off appointment. They want adequate time with a skilled professional, who will listen to their concerns and discuss what's available to them. I believe our Bupa menopause plan can help women understand their symptoms and navigate the best options to suit them. Our plans provide enough time to speak with specially trained GP's, who will work with women to create a personalised care plan, getting them the care they need, whether that be through a prescription, advice or a referral. As well as the 45 minute initial appointment, we also provide a 15 minute follow up appointment and 24/7, 365 support with our menopause trained Bupa nurses through our any time heath line. We believe it's essential that women feel empowered to seek advice, choose their treatment and take control of their health with the support of a trusted expert by their side. Bupa's plan to tackle the menopause is to provide as many women as possible with the support to regain control of their health and well being. Bupa's expert team are waiting to help you make your plan.

What happens after your first appointment with our GP?

Once you’ve had your initial 45-minute doctor’s appointment as part of your Menopause Plan, here are some of the things that could happen next.

    Advice and an action plan

    The GP may be able to confirm whether they think you’re going through the menopause, and you may feel reassured by the chat you’ve had. Together, you might agree that this is all you need at this stage (along with your action plan, your follow-up appointment in 12 weeks and the other clinic benefits). Or you might take a different next step, as shown here.

    A prescription

    If your doctor feels you would benefit, and you're happy with the recommendation, they may write a prescription for some medication for you. They’ll talk through your options during your first consultation. These will be private prescriptions and each prescription itself will be included in the price of your Menopause Plan. However, you’ll need to pay for the medication at the dispensing pharmacy of your choice. This price of your medication is not a flat fee like with an NHS prescription. What you’ll pay will depend on the medication and how much the pharmacy charges. If you need a repeat prescription, this will be provided at your second appointment. After that, to get further prescriptions, you can book a 15-minute or 30-minute private appointment with the same doctor (at an extra cost). Or, if necessary, our doctor can write to your NHS GP and ask them to take over prescribing the same medication for you. Please note that this will be a decision for your NHS GP.

    Blood tests or physical examinations

    If your doctor suggests that blood tests or a physical examination would be useful, they’ll talk to you about when and how to get them done. They’ll also talk to you about the costs. If we do the tests, then the doctor will contact you to discuss the results as soon as they have them. However, if you'd prefer to get those tests done on the NHS, our GP can contact your NHS GP and guide you through the next steps.

    Onward referral

    The doctor you see as part of your Menopause Plan might suggest that you need a referral to someone like a physiotherapist, a counsellor or a consultant. For example, they might recommend a gynaecologist. If you have private medical insurance or want to pay for private care yourself, this will be a private referral. In that case, the doctor you see can arrange the referral for you. If you want to be referred to be seen within the NHS, our doctor will need to ask your GP to arrange the referral for you. Usually, they will write a letter for you to give to your GP. The decision to make that referral will be made by your NHS GP.

    What is the menopause?

    The menopause marks the end of a woman’s ability to have children. Her ovaries stop producing large amounts of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, and her periods stop. The menopause usually comes with a range of physical and psychological symptoms, some of which can be unpleasant.

    51 percent

    of women say the menopause had a negative impact on their sex lives††

    58 percent

    of women struggle to get menopause support via their GP‡‡

    59 percent

    of women say they have difficulties at work during the menopause†††

    30 plus

    is how many menopause symptoms women may experience‡‡‡

    More about the menopause

    Interested in a Menopause Plan for your business?

    Call us to discuss on 0345 600 3476∧ or email us.


    Request a callback     Email us

    •  

       

      “The service I received was excellent. I was unsure if HRT was the route for me due to cancer in my family. After speaking with the doctor, I was reassured. I’m now on week four and wish I’d approached Bupa sooner.”

      Nina, Solihull, September 2020

    •  

       

      “This came at a time of great confusion . I had a number of symptoms I hadn’t attributed to the menopause so I was very concerned about my mental and physical health. I had excellent advice on managing my symptoms and the right treatment for me. It’s been a game-changer.”

      Louise, video consultation, July 2020

    Menopause support and advice from Bupa's experts

    Our website has lots of helpful information about the menopause, but we’ve hand-picked a few articles for you. You can also find out more from our Women's Health Hub.

    How to cope with hot flushes

    Hot flushes can range from the mild to the almost unbearable, and they can be embarrassing if you think other people have noticed. Here are our tips.

    Coping with hot flushes

    Early or premature menopause

    If you start going into menopause aged 40-45, that’s early menopause. And before that, it’s called premature menopause. Find out what happens.

    Early menopause

    What is perimenopause?

    Perimenopause is a transition period. It’s the time between your periods first becoming irregular and the point when you haven’t had one for a full year.

    What is perimenopause?

    Night sweats and disturbed sleep

    Menopause can mean waking up drenched in sweat, as well as difficulty falling asleep, waking frequently in the night, and waking too early every day.

    Night sweats and sleep

    Find out more about our Menopause Plan

    Our friendly booking advisers are here to help, and there’s no pressure.

    Enquire about our Menopause Plan

    Anyone can book our Menopause Plan. You can make an appointment direct with us, and there’s no need to go through your GP first.

    All this and more for £250

      Plenty of time to talk to a doctor who understands

     A personalised care plan for you to follow

     Call our nurse-led helpline for 24/7 menopause support for a whole year

      Choose whether to see the GP in person, by phone, or by video call.

     Call 0800 322 4566^

     Email us

     Book online

    The Menopause Plan isn’t covered by Bupa health insurance. It’s an extra cost.

    Please be aware that information you send to this email address may not be secure unless you send us your email through Egress Switch‡.

    Our Menopause plan - your questions answered

    If your question isn't answered here, just give us a call and we'll be happy to help.

    No. Anyone who’d like to talk to one of our specially trained doctors can book our Menopause Plan. It might be that you’re concerned about approaching the menopause, or unsure if your symptoms are related to the menopause. Remember you get a full year of access to our 24/7 Anytime HealthLine for any menopause-related questions, too.

    Yes. Please just ask when you book.

    Most of the women we see don’t need a blood test in order for us to diagnose the menopause. However, if you’re under 45 and have menopause symptoms, the doctor may recommend a blood test. This will be at an extra cost, which the doctor will discuss with you. The test will measure the level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in your blood, which increases as you approach the menopause.

    Levels of the FSH hormone can vary a lot in the years leading up to the menopause, so a blood test may not be reliable. As long as you’re healthy, the guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is that the diagnosis of perimenopause or menopause should be based on menopause symptoms alone, and should not depend on laboratory tests.

    If you got a prescription the first time you saw the doctor as part of your Menopause Plan, then you can get a repeat prescription (if appropriate) at the second appointment, 12 weeks later. At other times, you’ll need to book and pay for a separate appointment outside of the Menopause Plan. You can ask to see the same doctor you saw before. You can choose either a 15-minute or a 30-minute appointment.

    You don’t need to have the second appointment if you don’t want to. However, our Menopause Plan is a complete package at a flat cost. If you choose not to book your follow-up appointment, we can’t make any refund to you.

    Your Bupa health insurance doesn't cover this service, so it will be an extra cost. For other insurers, please check with your provider.

    After a thorough assessment and discussion, you will agree a personalised management plan with the GP. There may be several different outcomes, ranging from private prescriptions issued for HRT, lifestyle advice through to private referral to secondary care. The outcome is tailored specifically for you and you will also receive a personalised individual menopause plan report following your appointment. You may choose to receive a letter addressed to your own GP, detailing the outcome of your appointment should you wish to have this. You also get access to our Anytime HealthLine Nurses for up to one year following the appointment and you’ll also have a follow up with the same GP, which is usually three months after your initial appointment.

    FAQs about the menopause

    ^ Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 12:30pm. Calls may be recorded and to maintain the quality of our service we may monitor some of our calls, always respecting the confidentiality of the call.

    † The cost of any prescriptions is included in your Menopause Plan. You will need to pay for your medication at the pharmacy of your choice, and the cost may be higher than for medications dispensed under an NHS prescription.

    ‡ For more information and to sign up for a free Egress Switch account, go to https://switch.egress.com/ui/learn. You will not be charged for sending secure emails to a Bupa email address using the Switch service.

    †† Women’s Health Concern
    https://www.womens-health-concern.org/2017/10/new-survey-highlights-impact-menopause-every-aspect-womens-lives-uk

    ‡‡ Primary Care Women’s Health Forum
    https://pcwhf.co.uk/news/uk-women-struggling-to-access-essential-healthcare-services

    †††Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
    https://www.cipd.co.uk/about/media/press/menopause-at-work

    ‡‡‡ Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
    See PDF NHS Chelwest Menopause Symptoms Chart (PDF 0.1MB)

    Terms and conditions for self-pay GP services (PDF, 0.2MB)

    Bupa Anytime HealthLine and Bupa private GP services are provided by Bupa Occupational Health Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 631336. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London EC2R 7HJ

    Bupa GP appointments are only available to persons aged 18 years and older.

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