Lambeth Women and Girls’ Health Hub shows early signs of success
In its first six months, Lambeth’s Women and Girls’ Health Hub has improved women’s access to specialist support, enhanced the skills of clinicians working in general practice, and shown promising signs of the potential of this model to deliver benefits for women and girls across the borough.
Since the launch of the Women and Girls’ Health Hub in April, hospital referrals and waiting times for gynaecology services have fallen, general practice has reported a reduction in demand in the areas they cover, and women have benefited from improved access to expert care, as well as timely advice and support in community settings.
The hub model, which entails upskilling clinicians in primary care, alongside new collaborative, multidisciplinary working arrangements between general practice and hospital, is beginning to show results in the four areas prioritised at this stage: preconception; long acting reversible contraception; heavy menstrual bleeding; and menopause.
Initial evaluation of the first phase showed 65% of referrals into the Lambeth hub were successfully managed in primary care, with advice and guidance from specialists in virtual multidisciplinary clinics supporting general practice staff to care for their patients locally rather than see them added to long hospital waiting lists.
Demographic data of patients who have been cared for via the Women and Girls’ Health Hub also show early signs that this initiative is beginning to address health inequalities in Lambeth. Of the 59 patients who accessed the Women and Girls’ Health Hub in the first six months, 31% were from a Black or Black British background, 5% were from an Asian or Asian British background, and 17% were from mixed/multiple or other ethnic backgrounds.
Josepha Reynolds, Programme Director, Lambeth Together Neighbourhood and Wellbeing Delivery Alliance, said,
“The Women and Girls’ Health Hub supports our ambition to eliminate unnecessary divides between hospital and community, so that people can receive expert care as close to home as possible from a multidisciplinary team that is focused around their needs rather than the needs of individual services. I’m proud of our achievements so far, and excited to see how we can further develop this important offer to the women and girls of Lambeth.”
The Women and Girls’ Health Hub opened its doors to an in-person clinic in September 2025, offering appointments on referral by GPs.
How to access Lambeth Women and Girls’ Health Hub
Lambeth Women and Girls’ Health Hub is open to all women and girls aged 13 and above. Some people who don’t identify as women may also require access to care provided by the health hubs.
Lambeth residents can speak to their GP to be referred to the health hub. Referrals will be reviewed by a specialist team from Guy’s and St Thomas’ who will send advice back to the patient’s GP without the need for the patient to be seen by the hospital team. If necessary, patients may be referred to a specialist service for further treatment. If a GP or a clinician at the health hub thinks the woman or girl they are caring for needs hospital treatment, they will refer them to the right service.
More about Women and Girls’ Health Hubs
Women and girls’ health hubs are designed to make it easier for people to access the care they need in one convenient place, reducing waiting times for appointments and easing pressure on busy hospital services.
Lambeth was chosen to set up one of two pilot hubs in south east London in spring 2025, as part of South East London Integrated Care System’s work to improve health across Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lewisham, Lambeth and Southwark. Feedback from over 1,400 women and girls in south east London was used to shape them.
Women and girls’ health hubs bring together doctors, nurses and other specialists to provide a one stop shop for a range of conditions. Initially, these conditions include:
- Menopause
- Period or menstrual problems like heavy or irregular bleeding
- Contraception
- Preconception health
It is planned to expand services in the future to cover breast pain assessment and care; pelvic organ prolapse and pessary fitting/removal; cervical cancer screening; and STI and HIV screening.
Stay up to date with developments in women and girls’ health across south east London
Our wider work to support women to manage their health confidently
Alongside the hub, women and girls across Lambeth are benefiting from outreach initiatives, community events and partnerships with voluntary and community organisations designed to equip them with information and knowhow to manage their health more confidently. Activity includes:
- Health conversations on Lambeth’s Health and Wellbeing Bus
- Primary care network community events
- Partnership work with voluntary and community organisations