Summary of complaint
We received complaints from people who feel the programme was biased against Newson Health and scaremongering about HRT.
Our response
The programme explored the growth of the menopause industry, from menopause care through to the products marketed to women as being able to help alleviate their symptoms.
With regards to HRT, the programme was very careful to make clear throughout that oestrogen has been shown to be safe and effective at licensed doses, up to 100mcg a day, and that it has helped many women with menopause symptoms. It was also made clear that you should not stop taking any medication without speaking to your doctor first.
We are confident our investigation was in the public interest and that it was fair to Newson Health. We stated within the programme that Newson Health has seen 45,000 patients since 2020 and many women have been helped. Dr Newson鈥檚 own contribution to changing the face of menopause care was also acknowledged.
The programme highlighted concerns about prescribing practices at Newson Health after speaking to 15 former patients who told the 麻豆社 they had experienced complications following treatment there. In the course of their research, Panorama discovered the British Menopause Society has removed Dr Louise Newson from its register of menopause specialists because of concerns over high dose, off-label prescribing. This led to the BMS to issue a joint safety alert last year with five other specialist organisations, including the Royal College of GPs and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
In addition, Panorama discovered that the Care Quality Commission is currently looking into 鈥渋nformation of concern鈥 at Newson Health clinics 鈥渢o understand if there are any risks to people using the service and whether further action is warranted鈥. Clearly, it is in the public interest to report on these concerns, which are being expressed not only by women themselves but by a wide range of experts in menopause care and some former Newson Health doctors.
The programme made clear that General Medical Council guidelines allow specialists to prescribe above licence if they think it may help a patient. Clinicians should explain the risks so they can make an informed decision. However, undercover recording of two consultations with Newson Health clinicians found the journalist posing as a patient wasn鈥檛 informed that the safety of above licence doses of HRT hasn鈥檛 been established through clinical trials. This was not made clear in the follow-up information sent afterwards.
The programme-makers invited Dr Newson to take part in a filmed interview for inclusion in the programme, but she declined. Newson Health provided written responses to the points raised by the programme. These were on behalf of the clinic, Dr Newson and the two doctors whose consultations were included in undercover filming, and these were fairly reflected throughout the programme.
The recent rise in the use and popularity of menopause services and products has highlighted the need for more regulation and clear guidance to protect women, and we鈥檙e confident the programme was successful in stressing the importance of this.