Important update
We understand this news may raise a lot of questions. This page covers the most important information, and we're happy to answer anything else by email or phone.
Why we're closing
Two of our clinicians are stepping back, and the third is joining a new team. Here's what each of them is moving on to.
After 39 years as a doctor and 6 years running Health in Menopause, Alice has decided that it's time to retire.
Lindsey is also stepping back from clinical practice and will focus on using her knowledge to help women through her work in the charitable sector.
Sarah is happiest working as part of a team and will continue providing menopause care with the team at Manchester Menopause Hive.
Key dates
Here are the final dates for consultations, prescriptions and blood tests so you can plan your care around them.
Your next steps
You don't need to decide today, but here are the paths most patients will take.
Sarah will be joining Manchester Menopause Hive and will continue seeing Health in Menopause patients — in person at Sutton Coldfield or by video from anywhere in the UK.
Explore other BMS-accredited menopause specialists if you'd prefer to see someone new.
If you're settled on HRT and your symptoms are well controlled, ongoing care with your NHS GP may be all you need.
About the closure
Dr Alice Duffy is retiring after 39 years as a doctor, and Lindsey Lester is also retiring from clinical practice to focus on charitable work supporting women.
That leaves Dr Sarah Ball as the sole clinician. Sarah is happiest working as part of a team, and believes the shared knowledge gained from being part of a team is how the best care is delivered. Because of this, Health in Menopause will close on 23rd October 2026 and Sarah will move to her new team at Manchester Menopause Hive.
Manchester Menopause Hive is a Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered private menopause clinic. They provide face-to-face and video consultations, just as we do at Health in Menopause. Dr Sarah Ball will continue to see patients face-to-face in Sutton Coldfield and by video from anywhere in the UK, now as part of their team.
Dr Rachael Chrystal is the lead doctor at Manchester Menopause Hive. Dr Chrystal is a British Menopause Society Registered Menopause Specialist and has been known to Dr Duffy for years as part of their menopause specialists' group. She holds the same principles of care as those upheld at Health in Menopause.
You can read more about Rachael and the wider team on their website, and view their CQC registration here.
Your ongoing care
Continue with Dr Sarah Ball at Manchester Menopause Hive. Sarah will be happy to see any Health in Menopause patient — including those who consulted with Dr Duffy or Lindsey Lester. Patients can be seen in person at Sutton Coldfield or by video from anywhere in the UK.
See another private menopause specialist. A list of BMS-accredited menopause specialists can be found on the BMS website.
Return to NHS care. If you're established on your HRT and feel your symptoms are well controlled, you may wish to continue your care with your NHS practice.
Contact Manchester Menopause Hive directly via their website or by calling 0161 515 2341.
Sarah will be happy to see all patients previously under the care of Health in Menopause.
Only if you consent to sharing it. If you choose to continue your care at Manchester Menopause Hive, you can give consent for your patient record to be transferred electronically. This is done securely by our clinical record provider, Semble — which is also the system used by Manchester Menopause Hive, so the transfer is straightforward.
Your medical record
Your patient record tells your story — previous consultations, letters, test results, prescriptions, referrals, medical history, and communications with you. This information is a benefit to any treating clinician, and it may spare you having to go over everything from scratch.
Most importantly, it enables continuity of care, which is known to improve health outcomes, patient safety and patient satisfaction.
You have several options if you'd prefer not to share:
Yes. You can withdraw your consent at any time before the transfer of your record has been completed, by emailing info@healthinmenopause.co.uk. If you withdraw before the transfer is complete, we won't transfer your full record.
If your record has already been transferred, your withdrawal won't affect the lawfulness of the transfer that has already taken place — but you can contact your new provider directly to discuss ongoing care, your data protection rights, or any request to transfer your record elsewhere.
Data protection
Alongside your consent, we may rely on other lawful bases for processing your personal data under data protection law. These include the legitimate interests of ensuring continuity of care, the orderly closure of Health in Menopause, and giving you meaningful information and choice.
Processing your health data specifically is necessary for the provision of healthcare, treatment and management of health services under the responsibility of a professional subject to confidentiality.
Because Health in Menopause has provided GP services, GP patient records may need to be kept for a significant period in line with applicable GP records retention guidance. Where a date of death is known, GP records are generally retained for 10 years after death. Where a date of death is not known, personal data will be retained long-term, in accordance with our closed-practice data retention policy.
Health in Menopause remains responsible for any retained copy of your patient record after the practice closes. It will be encrypted, stored securely, and used only where necessary for legal, regulatory, professional record-keeping, complaint, claim, patient rights or similar purposes. It will not be used for routine clinical care after 23rd October 2026.
You continue to have rights in relation to your personal data, including rights of access, rectification, restriction and objection in certain circumstances.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you are concerned about how your personal data is handled.
Prescriptions & blood tests
You can request a repeat prescription here.
Please note this service is only available to:
Active patients. Medication is issued to women actively under the care of Health in Menopause.
Consultation within 12 months. If you haven't had a consultation in the last 12 months, a follow-up is required before a prescription can be issued.
Three-month review. If you've started or changed treatment recently, your three-month review needs to be completed first.
The final date for prescription requests is 19th October. No prescriptions will be issued by Health in Menopause after this date.
Yes - from 1st November onwards, Manchester Menopause Hive will be happy to issue repeat prescriptions for former Health in Menopause patients, provided that:
If you haven't consented to share your record, Manchester Menopause Hive will need to see you for a consultation before any prescriptions can be issued.
You can give consent to share your record here, or contact Manchester Menopause Hive on 0161 515 2341 to arrange an appointment.
If you're prescribed testosterone, you'll need a blood test approximately 2–3 months after starting treatment. If you haven't had a testosterone blood test in the past 12 months, this is required before another prescription can be issued.
Blood tests can't be booked online — please call the clinic on 0115 646 3390 to arrange one, or to book a follow-up consultation.
The final date for blood tests is 12th October.
We know this is a lot to take in. If anything isn't clear, please get in touch - we'd rather answer a question than have you worry about it.
