Manchester Menopause Hive

On this page

• Overview
• Person-centred Care
• Care provision, Integration and continuity
• Providing Information
• Listening to and involving people
• Equity in access
• Equity in experiences and outcomes
• Planning for the future

This is the first inspection for this service since its registration with CQC in May 2025. This key question has been rated as Good.

We looked for evidence that the Manchester Menopause Hive (MMH) met people’s needs, and that staff treated people equally and without discrimination.

We found that patients/clients and staff had ready access to information and advice, steps were taken to ensure people understood their care and treatment and, what actions they could take if they were dissatisfied about any aspect of the service.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

People who used MMH self-referred and were able to make an appointment that suited them during the operating times of the service.

The service made sure people were at the centre of their care and treatment choices.

People who used the service were invited to make contact if they felt they needed additional advice or support.

People were actively contacted to ensure they were given the opportunity to seek additional advice or raise concerns.

MMH understood the potential of the health and care needs of people who chose to use the service.

People used the service to access specialist advice and receive the time they felt they needed to fully explore their symptoms, develop a treatment plan tailored towards their individual needs and have access to all available treatment options, including treatment unavailable on the NHS or ‘unlicenced’. The term ‘unlicensed medicine’ describes medicines, which are used outside the terms of their UK licence or that have no licence for use in the UK. The medicine, however, is clinically effective and safe to use in conditions other than what it is licensed for.

It was also evident that where appropriate MMH worked jointly with the patients’ GP to ensure that when a modified treatment was available on the NHS this was provided.

Integrity was maintained as MMH would do their best to meet individual needs, but the standard operating procedure and on-line information stated, treatment not endorsed by British Menopause Society could not be provided.

The service delivered accurate, current information to patients, primarily in written text. To improve comprehension, leaders should consider using additional formats such as illustrations and photos.

Processes in place for dealing with information met best practice standards in respect of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).

Consumer rights were protected, fees were made clear, and people were able to cancel appointments within a given period without penalty.

The leaders indicated that when people needed translation and interpretation services this was provided.

The MMH website also provided detailed written information about the types of treatment available.

Manchester Menopause Hive provided detailed information about how people could raise a concern about the service. They were open about dealing with concerns and were signed up to an independent health specific advocacy organisation to ensure people had support if a dispute were to arise. Information about giving feedback was readily available on the MMH website and staff invited people’s comments following a consultation. The provider checked this feedback so that positive aspects of the service could be built on and areas for improvement identified.

The service made sure that people could access the care, support and treatment they wanted.

The provider ensured people were followed up as required and people were encouraged attend for follow-up appointments either with MMH or their own NHS GP.

People were signposted to an alternative service if it was assessed that the service could not meet their needs.

During the factual accuracy process the registered manager confirmed that adjustments were made to ensure the physical environment met the needs of patients who could not use steps because there was a portable ramp available for people who couldn't use stairs. We were also assured that the building had passed local planning regulations, however, the buildings manager would risk assess the unguarded stair well into the cellar near to the coat rack.

Manchester Menopause Hive is a private self-funding independent GP practice. Staff and leaders actively listened to information and identified people who may need additional support to use the service such as physical access. Feedback about experience and outcomes to the provider was overwhelmingly positive. We saw that significant steps were taken to resolve and appease people if a concern was raised.

All feedback to CQC was positive. The most common comment was that women felt listened to and given the time to explore every aspect of their experience of menopause.

Manchester Menopause Hive is a private independent GP practice. Patients were encouraged to think about their long-term care and treatment; however, the aspect of end-of-life care is not generally relevant to the service, and they would refer people to more appropriate service.