Right to Choose for menopause, explained

What Right to Choose means for menopause

NHS Right to Choose gives you the legal right to choose any NHS-funded provider in England for your first outpatient appointment. This includes menopause and women's health services.

What this means in practice: if your local NHS menopause clinic has a 9-month wait, or if there is no local clinic at all, you can pick a provider elsewhere in England with shorter waits. Your GP must process the referral. The appointment is free.

The rules your GP must follow

NHS England guidance is clear on what GPs can and cannot do:

• Your GP must offer you a choice of provider for your first outpatient appointment.
• Your GP must process a referral to an NHS-funded provider that offers the service you need.
• Your GP cannot refuse solely because the provider is not local.
• Your GP cannot refuse because they have a "local arrangement" with another provider.
• The only valid exceptions: the provider is not NHS-funded, does not offer the service, or there is a specific clinical contraindication.

If your GP claims Right to Choose "doesn't apply to menopause," that is incorrect. It applies to any NHS-funded first outpatient appointment.

How to find a provider

Steps to find an NHS-funded menopause provider:

• Search the NHS website for "menopause services" or "women's health hub" plus your region.
• Contact NHS England's advice line or your local Integrated Care Board (ICB) for a list of accredited menopause providers.
• Ask private menopause clinics directly if they have an NHS contract or accept NHS Right to Choose referrals. Some do.
• Check patient forums and menopause charities for real-world waiting time data.

When you find a provider, ask: "Do you accept NHS Right to Choose referrals? What is your current waiting time?"

How to ask your GP

The conversation is straightforward if you know your rights:

• Book an appointment and say: "I would like a Right to Choose referral to [provider name] for a menopause assessment."
• Give the provider's name, location, and any e-Referral Service booking code.
• If the GP is unsure, say: "NHS England says I have the right to choose any NHS-funded provider for my first outpatient appointment."
• Ask them to process the referral while you are there, or within a few days.

If your GP refuses

If your GP refuses a Right to Choose referral:

• Ask for the refusal in writing, with the specific NHS England rule they are relying on.
• Request a same-practice second opinion.
• Contact the practice manager and ask them to confirm the practice's Right to Choose policy in writing.
• If still refused, you can complain to the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and then the PHSO.

Most refusals are due to lack of familiarity with the rules, not malice. A calm, specific request backed by the NHS England guidance usually works.

After the appointment

Once you have seen the menopause provider:

• The clinic will usually write to your GP with recommendations.
• Ask the clinic to include a clear shared care plan so your GP can take over prescribing.
• Most GPs will continue HRT initiated by a specialist — especially if the clinic specifies the exact product, dose, and review schedule.
• If your GP still refuses ongoing prescribing, that is a separate issue that can be escalated.

Frequently asked questions