Newson Clinic - A cult?

[Ittybittytittycomittee]

Please can you share your experiences of the Newson Clinic.

They have so many doctors and nurses now working for them and the care I have received is so inconsistent despite paying in the realm of what now equates to a thousand pound plus. Each consultation has resulted in conflicting information which has now lead to some gynea issues.

I use instagram and there are so many accounts that seem to fawn over the mere mention of Louis Newson name, it's like she can do no wrong. It feels like Newson Health has become a cult with unsuspecting women being over medicalised with out informed consent.

I'd be interested to hear other ladies experiences.

No idea about this clinic, but general discussion and "treatment" of menopause is very much over-medicalised these days. You might do better to save your money.

Hmm I'm not sure I agree it's a cult but I do agree that the service you receive is not always that great, especially once you are signed up as an existing client. I wasnt at all impressed with the nurse who did my follow-up consultations - she always got my details wrong and was generally very disinterested. It does feel a bit like they are focused on getting you signed up to expensive ongoing HRT treatment plans but not very interested in supporting patients on their journey.

I wish I'd have known before hand. I was so blindsided by the thought of the clinic being my saviour. All I got was lied to, over prescribed off licence doses, and under prescribed progesterone leading to a very invasive procedure. It seems that a lot of women have experienced the same level of 'care'.

They have also made it virtually impossible to get in touch with them unless you're an existing client, and even sheen it's a mission to get a call back.

Sorry to hear about your experience OP.

I did read an article int he Mail on Sunday during the summer where an NHS GP wrote about quite dangerous prescribing errors in private HRT clinics. Sounds similar to your experience. Far too high doses of oestrogen being given in some cases. www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11087641/Are-private-menopause-clinics-putting-women-risk-giving-HRT.html

Have you contacted the clinic and said all you have explained here?
If not, that's your first port of call, set out as a polite, bullet-pointed email.

Many consultants do prescribe off-licence, but it's on the basis that you understand the risks involved, and are happy and able to fund scans to find out what's going on.

Did you have a high dose of estrogen which resulted in some unexpected bleeding so you have had a biopsy/ hysteroscopy?

It feels like Newson Health has become a cult with unsuspecting women being over medicalised with out informed consent

Not sure what you mean by this. Were you not informed about what you were prescribed, the pros and cons?

What exactly happened that has made you feel like this?

I was the victim (not that I cared) of an internet pile-on by her acolytes after I said that there was definitely a place for antidepressants during perimenopause. HRT was great for my hot flushes and aching joints but the only thing that sorted my menopausal depression out was Prozac. I might have well have said that I drank the blood of sacrificed children, such was the reaction. I don’t doubt that the clinic does a half decent job but I suspect it’s main priority is to rinse desperate women of lots of money.

Doesn't she just prescribe oestrogel and utrogestan? I asked my gp for that combo and she prescribed it straight away. No fuss and prescription charge only.

No skin in this game as I have not used the services of the clinic, although I do know who Newson is, and have listened to a couple of her podcasts.

Her selling point is that she and her staff will LISTEN and are totally up for prescribing HRT. So many of us have had experiences with dismissive doctors and being fobbed off and being told that we're not old enough or not ill enough or that we just need to get on with it because it's natural. All in a standard 10 minute appointment.

I saw a private menopause specialist last week, not from this organisation. She was a standard NHS GP doing private work on the side, who had a specialist interest in women's health. I had 45 minutes to talk through everything, not just HRT but lifestyle, all issues.

I also don;t think that off-licence is necessarily dangerous and even if you're paying for it I don't think a doctor is going to risk their career prescribing something they know to be dangerous.

The point that @CharityShopChic makes is valid. Many women (shown by this forum) are dismissed by GPs who won't give them HRT (for various reasons) or who aren't experienced enough to prescribe what's needed.

In desperation, women turn to private drs. Unlike what @Janieread says, many women can't get any HRT from their GP,, which is a disgrace.

I've never used her clinic but I do gather it's expanded hugely from when it was launched and, maybe part of this is that the personal touch isn't quite there now? I can't say. When she started, there was just her and a couple of other drs.

As for the fees - most private consultants' fees are around £300 for the first appt, which can last 45-60mins. After that, shorter appts are usually 30 mins and half (ish) the cost.

If everything goes well with treatment, no one should need more than two appts in a year (that's the first one and a 2nd one at around 3 months.) Legally, they have to do a review annually (for all meds.)

There's a huge range of what private drs charge @Ittybittytittycomittee
Some are happy to offer 5-10 min phone appts for no charge, for a quick question, others want paying for every thing. And then there may be costs for blood tests etc to factor in.

I think her fees are on the high side, possibly, as they are charging consultants' fees, when they are GPs or nurses.

She can't prescribe anything magical except perhaps off licence testosterone. Try your gp first and ask for oestrogel and utrogestan and save yourself 300.

I wouldn’t use her clinic but my GP couldn’t have been keener to prescribe HRT.

The surgery was influenced by Newson, they showed me her app etc, so whether people think it’s good is probably a matter of perspective

Personally I appreciate the awareness but we will have data in a few decades when this current uplift in demand reaches older age

It's not the products that vary with private treatment @Janieread but the doses and cycle lengths. I'm not sure about how far a GP (private or otherwise) can go, but certainly private gynaecologists can prescribe off licence because they take responsibility for what they are doing. Obviously, they ought not to be doing anything dangerous, but they can make small changes to the regimes.

What this means is sometimes reducing the amount of progesterone (if someone is intolerant) or lengthening the cycle (beyond the usual month.)

Talking from personal experience here.

This is always closely monitored and with the understanding of being able to have scans if necessary.

This is what you're paying for - a dr who can treat you as an individual and monitor the dose so it's right (and safe.)

Ok
My gp checks in with me to monitor how I am. (doing very well on it). It's just a big standard gp practice in a poor rural area. I can't help feeling that 300 doesn't buy much except a feeling that you are a bit special - but if I'd had a twat of a gp I'd probably have considered it.

I've no experience of this clinic but of course have read about it.

I'm 68 and been on HRT for some years prescribed by my female GPs - I can only recommend that if you get no joy from your GP then arrange a private appointment with an NHS-practising female gynaecologist.

Money buys you time. My consult that I had (online via video) was £150 for 45 minutes. 45 minutes is plenty time to discuss your issues in depth and ask all the questions you don't have time for ordinarily. Pros and cons of patches, or gel, or related health conditions, making a plan for next steps and so on. A standard 10 minute GP appointment doesn't give you that, no fault of the GP as they do what they can in the time, but paying gives you the luxury of a proper conversation and exploring alternatives.

My normal GP isn't a "twat". But they are pressed for time and not an expert in gynaecology or menopause. And I felt it worthwhile to pay to speak to someone who is.

And in my case i'm a bit more complex in that i've had a hysterectomy (although I kept my ovaries) and I also have an underactive thyroid. So lots to talk about.

I can't help feeling that 300 doesn't buy much except a feeling that you are a bit special

Well, that's your take on it.

It buys time and expertise.

My consultant offered me Oestrogel almost 15 years ago when no one else had heard of it (almost) and most women were being given tablets or patches. He also advised a long 3-monthly cycle (for late peri) which again, most GPs don't even know about. (There is one tablet form of HRT for this.)

Just one example.

Not sure about “cult” but I am thankful for Dr Newson’s YouTube videos and app. After a few weeks of pretty bad menopausal symptoms earlier this year my gp just prescribed me the standard conti patch and I had terrible reactions to the synthetic progestin. If it wasn’t for Dr Louise’s YouTube video I would’ve had no idea about body identical progesterone (prescribed as Prometrium in Australia) one cap a day and using a weekly oestrogen patch. It turned my life around after a few weeks. I just looked up the NHS prescription details online and told my gp what to prescribe over the phone! My gp who bulk bills (free) had originally referred me to a private woman’s clinic with gps specialising In menopause. The waiting list was 3 months long with a first appointment cost of $300aud. I am a well paid executive, but even I can’t afford with 2 teen children! It made me so cross to think there are many women out there who may have a gp like mine with little experience in menopause and can’t afford to see a specialist! So I’m thankful for Dr Newson’s app and YouTube, which are free and very helpful!

@Ittybittytittycomittee You stated that they 'lied to you'. what happened?

Yes. I’ve spoken to the clinic and the Dr I spoke to was agreeing with my points. I was prescribed a very high dose of esyrogen and not told it was an off licence dose. I was also told a low dose of progesterone whilst on a high dose of estrogen was absolutely fine.

By cult I mean that the clinic are basically driving home that hrt cures all ills. There’s no substantiated evidence and when I asked I was met with a blank. Also that women everywhere are being sucked in to the ‘evidence based’ claims that Newson make.

I know I’m not alone I’m my issues.

and three weeks on I’m still waiting for my requested medical records and the complaints procedure!

By cult I mean that the clinic are basically driving home that hrt cures all ills. There’s no substantiated evidence and when I asked I was met with a blank. Also that women everywhere are being sucked in to the ‘evidence based’ claims that Newson make.

I guess it's how someone interprets what the clinic says.
There are lots of women who have numerous symptoms during peri and post menopause that they don't realise can be related to hormones.

What sort of things are you thinking about where you feel there is 'no evidence' and women are being 'sucked in'?

I'm a current patient and I rate the service from Newson Health. It's brilliant.

I'm quite bemused at the idea that it's a cult. It's a professional practice, specialising in menopause, I'm not sure what about that makes it a cult.

I went to their practice pre Covid and it was a really pleasant and reassuring experience. The building is nice, the consulting rooms are calm, there is a 45-minute consultation where they really listen to you and your symptoms. You fill in a questionnaire ahead of that to list them and to explain how you feel.

They also have the ability to do DEXA bone scans and have on site pharmacy so you can take some medication away with you. There's cucumber water, a calm atmosphere and professional and friendly admin and reception staff. What more could you want as an anxious menopausal woman?

I also get an annual checkup and a call back or email reply very promptly if I have questions or any issues. I can order prescriptions online, and they're dispatched promptly.

It's worth every penny. I recently tried to order a repeat HRT prescription via my GP and they made it so difficult I gave up and paid via Newson health.

Cucumber water! Definitely worth it then 😂

Repeat prescription here - I don’t have to do anything other than go on an app and tick a box

But cucumber water for anxious menopausal women? Are you not the marketing intern… we’re not all past it wrecks