Nova Scotia is set to open a new Menopause Centre of Excellence in Spryfield this winter. The clinic will specialize in managing symptoms related to perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause, with a focus on clinical care, research and education. “Today is another important step forward for women’s health and another step closer to opening the Menopause Centre of Excellence,” said Shawna O’Hearn, co-founder of the Menopause Society of Nova Scotia, in a news release from the province. “By integrating evidence-based menopause care, education and research within a co-ordinated centre of excellence, we can improve access, reduce disparities, and ensure that midlife women receive timely, high-quality care and support.” Susan Leblanc, N.S. NDP Status of Women critic, says timely access to health care is key. “I’m happy that this is happening. But the proof will be in the pudding. So many people are living in, pain and in frustration because their pain is being ignored,” she said. ‘Action is needed’ The centre is part of an overall plan to improve women’s health care in the province, which also includes enhanced breast screening, a Women’s Health Research and Innovation Grant, and an education co-ordinator to help improve understanding of menopause among health providers, educators and the public. “Women have told us more action is needed to improve access to the health services they need,” said Michelle Thompson, minister of Health and Wellness, in the release. Thompson says a review of the breast screening process is in progress. It will look at booking and waitlist management, scheduling, standardizing services and equipment, and workforce opportunities. “We need more screening capacity. We need more diagnostic capacity because as more women come into screening, we’re going to need to make sure that if they have a positive screen, they can have their imaging workup done in a timely fashion,” said Dr. Sian Iles, medical advisor for the N.S. Breast Screening Program, told reporters. Thompson says work is already underway to increase capacity in areas with longer waits. “We are anticipating a boost in available appointments in the next several months,” said Thompson. ‘Government doesn’t have all the answers’ The Nova Scotia government is launching several other new initiatives, including a Women’s Health Summit, the Women’s Health Clinical Collaborative, and a Women’s Health Program. “Government doesn’t have all the answers,” Thompson told reporters Monday. “The people who use these services, deliver this care and advocate for women and girls every day have valuable expertise and we want their voices and experiences at the table.” The goal of the Women’s Health Summit, set to hold its inaugural meeting this fall, will be to build on input from community organizations, advocates, patients, and health-care providers to identify and shape future priorities. The Women’s Health Program and Women’s Health Clinical Collaborative will oversee women’s health initiatives, with an emphasis on creating an efficient and sustainable system. “These new initiatives will ensure women’s health remains a priority, while bringing together the expertise needed to make meaningful improvements for women today and into the future,” said Thompson. ‘Important step forward’ While there is still work to be done, Thompson says Monday’s announcement is an important step forward in ensuring women are heard, their health is prioritized and they can get the care they need when they need it. “For too long many women have felt they needed to advocate harder, wait longer or try to navigate a more complicated path to get the care they need. Today’s announcement is about changing that,” she said. “We also know this work has to better reflect the experiences of women who haven’t always been well served by the health-care system, including the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and Indigenous and Black women.” For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
