The Care Quality Commission (CQC), England’s health watchdog, is investigating potential irregularities at private menopause clinics run by Dr Louise Newson, a well-known figure in the field. The British Menopause Society (BMS) has also removed her accreditation for prescribing high doses of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). More than a dozen patients reported complications to the BBC, including womb linings thickening and potential cancer risk. Four former doctors of Newson Health, the clinics she runs, also shared their concerns with BBC’s Panorama program, as well as the BMS which warned about high-dose HRT.
Newson Health responded by saying that their approach is consistent with national guidelines, and they use clinical experience and data for “the best possible menopause care,” while noting uncertainties around the BMS’s accreditation status. The CQC confirmed that information had been received and they were analyzing it to determine whether any appropriate actions are required. According to one of the patients interviewed, even though her HRT dose was three times over the licensed level, the severity of her menopause symptoms had increased.
Newson Health underlined that it has seen over 45,000 patients and sustained constant CQC ratings, adding that patients often wait for months to get appointments from the NHS. Menopausal women resort to HRT to lessen their symptoms, which medical scientists agree are regularly caused by reduced hormone levels, including brain fog, hot flushes, and mood swings. HRT contains substances that alleviate symptoms, but with oestrogen thickening the uterus lining, modern therapy also prescribes progesterone as well, which shields the uterus.
The highest regal dosage for HRT in the UK is 100 micrograms od oestrogen per day. Dr. Newson claims she is prescribing higher doses sometimes because some patients don’t absorb oestrogen properly, but the GMC guidelines require specialists to notify patients about the risks before getting their approval. 13 out of 15 patients who contacted the BBC had experienced issues after receiving personalized treatments at Newson Health. One of these clients claimed that her oestrogen dose had been increased to six times over the licensed level, producing nausea, pregnancy-like symptoms, and thickening of the inner lining of the womb. A former doctor of Newson Health also voiced concern that some women may be harmed
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