Women's all-in-one health hub opens

Patients can book into the clinic through thier GP receptionist

A health hub to help women access care including gynaecology, sexual health and menopause issues in one place has officially opened.

The Sunderland women’s health hub at Hylton Medical Practice in Pallion launched on Friday.

GP and clinical lead Ruth Thompson said: "Women's healthcare hasn't been so joined up and hasn't been so easy to access, so we want to make it as easy as possible."

It is one of three hubs currently in development in the region.

Dr Ruth Thompson said the hub is a "one-stop shop" for women

As Sunderland is an area of high deprivation, Dr Thompson said women faced barriers to accessing services.

"Hopefully this is a friendly, central, easy access place where women can come for a variety of things instead of having to go all over the place," she said.

Alexis Daurat said she has used the health hub three times

Patient Alexis Daurat, who lives in Ryhope, Sunderland, said that in the months she had been using the hub before it officially launched, she felt her care had been personalised.

"It's not just 'walking into a GP practice', 'sit down', 'there's your prescription for HRT', they have an understanding of who I am," she said.

Other similar hubs are due to open to Gateshead and North Cumbria.

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Health Board said the one in Gateshead will be in multiple buildings but offering a more holistic approach.

The hub in Cumbria will offer more virtual consultations because of the challenging geography.