Cardiff opens its first women’s health hub as nationwide rollout begins

Cardiff’s first women’s health hub has opened, offering specialist perimenopause and menopause support for women aged 40 to 65.

Minister for mental health and wellbeing Sarah Murphy visited the East Cardiff Menopause Hub this week to learn about the new service, which brings together patient-centred advice, treatment and community support under one roof.

The hub forms part of a Wales-wide network of pathfinder women’s health hubs established during the first phase of delivering the Women’s Health Plan.

Women registered with one of the East Cardiff GP Cluster practices will be able to access extended 20-minute consultations, available face-to-face, by telephone or online, with GPs who have specialist experience in menopause care.

Practice nurses will also provide broader healthcare support, including blood pressure checks, lifestyle advice and guidance on hormone replacement therapy.

A Menopause Café, open to women of all ages, will offer a welcoming community space to share experiences and ask questions.

Sarah Murphy said: “It was fantastic to visit the Maelfa hub and see first-hand how Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is bringing high-quality, compassionate care closer to home for women in East Cardiff.

“Women’s health hubs will make it easier for women in Wales to get care when they need it.

“As the pathfinder hubs are rolled out, we’ll be listening to women’s feedback and adapting to make sure we are building a health service which meets the needs of women and girls, now and for generations to come.”

By March, every health board in Wales will have a pathfinder women’s health hub. Each health board has received an additional £300,000 this financial year to support their development.

The hubs form part of the Women’s Health Plan, which includes more than 60 actions to close the gender health gap and is based on feedback from around 4,000 women across Wales.

Dr Claire Beynon, executive director of public health at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said: “Too many women feel unsupported or unheard when seeking help for the symptoms of menopause.

“The East Cardiff Menopause Hub is a really positive step in bringing high-quality, compassionate care closer to home, with longer appointments and specialist expertise focused on women’s health needs.

“By combining clinical care with community support, this service helps women feel informed, confident and in control of their health. It also reflects our wider commitment to reducing health inequalities.”