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.

Yup me too (repeat prescription). And you can keep the cucumber water 😂

It’s probably old and anxious like us anyway 😂

I don't want to come over all 'heavy' here but I think there may be some legal issues involved in accusing drs of 'lying' etc and it can be interpreted as libellous @Ittybittytittycomittee

I'm really not siding with them, and you clearly feel let down, but just saying that they could take a dim view of online accusations.

Possibly, the clinic has become a victim of its own success by growing so large and there is bound to be a variation when they have over 100 staff.

It's not the same experience as seeing one private consultant. Over the years, mine has done my smears, arranged Dexa and pelvic scans etc, and it's been 'wrap around' care for want of a better term!

But I guess that for many women using the clinic, it's giving them more than they could get via their GP.

@Ittybittytittycomittee can I ask what dose Estrogel and utrogestan and problems you had as a consequence?

Don't be silly. Or threatening.

Women shouldn't have to go to menopause clinics. GP should provide this service.

But some GPs are really reluctant to prescribe hormones to women. And when they are persuaded to prescribe, they tell patients to take the lowest possible dose of HRT meds and for the shortest period of time.

They don't tell women about all of the medicines available, such as internal oestrogen and testosterone.

Instead they warn of breast cancer risks.

It's all really unhelpful scaremongering tactics. The result is that confused women don't get the treatment that would benefit them.

I haven't used the Newson clinic, but it has a high profile and has drawn media attention to women's needs.

@Janieread There are some medical forums, for various health conditions, that ban the naming of any medical professionals on posts and only allow comments and opinion/ recommendations by PM. Their reasons for doing that are as I said. That's the only reason I mentioned it. I was not threatening anything.

@Janieread Just to clarify the point, if you read the link that another poster left, it links to an article in the Mail, which describes a woman's negative experience of 'a clinic' The Mail points out that they cannot name the clinic or drs 'for legal reasons'. I'm trying to be helpful here.

I'm not stating anything but fact, so how can that be accused of being libellous? When the clinic are able to provide solid evidence of why they over medicated me, and under medicated me then I might take a different view. As I said, I know I'm not alone on this.

Women shouldn't have to go to menopause clinics. GP should provide this service

I could not agree more @LulooLemon but they're not. And I see it from a GP's perspective too - they can't be an expert in everything, and some have developed interests in other areas of practice, like children's health, diabetes, dementia, mental health. But menopause care has traditionally not been a thing for GPs to take a specialist interest in, and it shows. I think most of us have experienced being fobbed off by a GP prescribing antidepressants and not connecting the dots with a patient who has had a hysterectomy, 3 UTIs in the last 6 months and 2 presentations with "depression". I know I certainly have.

Lots of women get to the end of their tether and decide to go private. Just as other women go private for therapy, or weight loss surgery, or whatever else. That is a valid choice.

As for the pushing HRT - well I'd argue that historically we have been underprescribing HRT. Women who are really suffering being denied something which might help, because of poor GP knowledge/education, or overstated risks. Many women cannot get a referral to a specialist NHS clinic for love or money, I think the waiting times I have read about locally are up to 2 years. For a huge number of women, HRT makes a big difference. And in my opinion, it's always worth a try. Easy enough to discontinue if you don't feel any better.

Surely the op can mention a clinic

Maybe not an individual HCP but it’s a brand with many staff like many others

I had a really good experience. I explained what the issue was and the doctor explained the options. At no point was I pressured into taking anything I wasn’t comfortable with and I was able to ask lots of questions and get answers which helped me make the decision about what medication to take. I was really impressed.

I don't give a shit if nobody else goes there btw and I am most certainly not a marketing intern, I'm a professional menopausal woman. Last time I checked they had a waiting list so I doubt they care.

What Newson and all the prominent women like Davina are doing is putting some counterbalance to the myth that HRT is dangerous which is essential after 20 years. After that it’s up to each women to weigh up the risks and benefits.

It’s terrible that the provision of this care is so hit and miss. I was very lucky to be able to afford a consultation and a follow up and some prescription costs, then I transferred to the NHS. I’m happy to pay as the profits go into the charity/education work so whilst I can’t personally pay for everyone else, I feel slightly less ‘I’m alright Jack’. The care I received was thoughtful and competent and allowed me to take charge of my health. It’s also left me able to educate my friends of a similar age.

I do agree HRT is not for everyone and other issues do exist.

HRT isn't bad, and it should be an option for every woman if she wants it. I take HRT. I'm a big advocate. What I'm against is the fact, and it is a fact for me and many other women, that we are being over medicalised with high doses of HRT through private clinics.

Had I not spoken to my GP about my ongoing issues, I wouldn't be any the wiser about gene issue that are down to low progesterone does in connection with high Oestrogen.

I'm now on a very low dose of HRT and feel better than I have in years. It's sad that I was put straight on a 'high dose with no 'suck it and see' option. As I was paying through the nose I believed I was talking to the experts.

Low dose progesterone , very high dose of Estrogel resulting in thickening of my womb lining. I'm now waiting on the results of a biopsy. Gynea said it was the result of the progesterone not protecting my womb. I'd have been nine the wiser had my own GP not referred me for an ultrasound to check for issues.

You only have to look at menopause forums to see how LN is worshipped by many. You can also find threads on the same forums that absolutely diss what she's saying.

If you google reviews there’s plenty of negative feedback with one and two star reviews. Five stars too taking it to 3.5 overall

If people can review online and say why they are unhappy I don’t see why the op can’t too

@Ittybittytittycomittee what is a very high dose of oestrogen? I'm using evorel 100 and feel.better but wondering if.its too.high 😬 I got my original prescription from a private menopause consultant because my Gp can't prescribe utrogestan in my area. I then went to the gp to up my dose which she did after taking bloods.

I used a local menopause nurse and she was great. I think Louise Newson is quite evangelical and it’s v expensive. The best thing is to really educate yourself and then be forceful with GP to prescribe.

Sorry you are going through this. Good luck with biopsy result.

Can I ask what Estrogel dose and utrogestan dose/regime. It’s useful to know the levels at which people can encounter problems.

I agree with you regards the prozac - i take a combination of Fluoxetine and HRT and both work well. One sorts one issue (prozac for anger and depression) and HRT for anxiety and other menopausal symptons.

I tried to come off the prozac a year ago and the anger started to come back after about 3 weeks. I was so angry all the time it was very unpleasant.

They were fine when I used them. But I was on an average two and then three pumps dose of oestrogen plus utrogestan every day and still developed hyperplasia with polyps.

So the same dose an NHS GP would prescribe.

I wonder if some women’s endometriums (endometria?) are just more susceptible to oestrogen.

At the highest point I was on 250mg with 100mg progesterone. I’m now down to 50mg and feel better than I have done since starting.