Your Menopause Nurse - Mell

I didn’t begin my journey into nursing until I was 24 years old. By then, I was a mother of two boys, (see above), and had witnessed the incredible care my father received while rehabilitating in hospital for months after a major stroke. At the time, I was working as a fundholding assistant at a busy GP surgery, but I found myself increasingly captivated by the world of nursing—both in my professional role and during my visits to Dad.

Watching the nurses care for Dad was truly inspiring and sparked a desire in me to pursue nursing. I began by signing up for bank nursing, which only deepened my passion for the field. With that fire lit, I applied to study nursing at York University. As I left the GP surgery to start my journey, the senior nurse's words echoed in my ears: “What on earth do you want to do that for?” she scolded. Despite the scepticism, three years later, I graduated as a fully qualified nurse. One of the most memorable experiences during my training was spending the final 10 weeks in Toronto, Canada. It was an incredible opportunity to see how their healthcare system compared to ours and work in a bustling city-centre hospital, treating patients from wonderfully diverse cultural backgrounds. 

I began my career on general medical and surgical wards, where I developed a particular passion for cardiac care. Later, I transitioned to a Minor Injuries department, where every day brought something new—from divers with jellyfish stings to chemical burns, heart attacks, and even amputations, both accidental and intentional. The diversity and intensity of the cases fuelled my dedication to providing the best care possible. However, I always had the desire to return to the GP surgery where my journey first started. When a position became available, I seized the opportunity, applied, and was thrilled to be successful in joining the team once again.

From the very beginning, I knew that specialising in women’s health was where my passion lay. While the "general" in general practice encompasses a vast array of areas, women’s health stands out as a unique and intricate specialty. It’s a field with its own depth and complexity, yet it beautifully overlaps with and connects to so many other aspects of healthcare.

From contraception and pre- and postnatal care to cervical smears, pre- and post-surgical care, hormone implants, and vaccinations—the list of areas I worked in was extensive, and I loved every aspect of it. Eventually, I began fitting contraceptive coils and implants, which became particular highlights of my work.

My interest in menopause was first sparked after years of taking cervical smears. In that role, I found myself in the unique position (pun intended) of noticing changes in the vaginal and vulval areas. These often led to conversations with patients - conversations about a subject that, unsurprisingly, many found difficult or too embarrassing to bring up. As these concerns were rarely addressed with their GP, I saw this as an opportunity to support women, discuss these changes, and explore possible treatments. The gratitude and relief on so many faces as they left my consulting room made me realise just how little awareness there was about menopause and how important it was to open up these discussions.

And just like that, my mission was born. I set out to enhance the knowledge of the nurses and staff at the surgery, while making it my personal goal to raise menopause awareness among our patients. Determined to make a difference, I dove into learning everything I could about the subject—not just for others, but for my own understanding as well. During my training journey I was also experiencing some challenging menopause symptoms personally.   It all truly clicked when I attended my first proper training course (a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Louise Newson). From that moment, I was completely hooked.

When I began offering menopause appointments at my surgery, the response was overwhelming. It was like opening Pandora’s box—once the lid was lifted, there was no going back. Word spread quickly, and before I knew it, I had a growing waiting list and an influx of messages from patients seeking advice and support. It became crystal clear that menopause care was something women desperately needed as part of their GP services. Unfortunately, GP surgeries are often expected to prioritise long-term conditions under their contracts, such as diabetes, heart disease, and asthma. Yet menopause is deeply interconnected with these areas—contributing to issues like joint pain, weight gain, anxiety, and more. In fact, menopause can profoundly impact overall health and exacerbate conditions like heart disease—the leading cause of death in women. The demand for care underscored how vital it is to integrate menopause support into GP services, not only for symptom management but for safeguarding women’s broader health.

I took the initiative to train the wider team, including the community psychiatric nurse and receptionists, ensuring everyone was equipped to support patients more effectively. Healthcare Assistants and Practice Nurses began engaging in more frequent discussions about menopause with patients, and as a result, patients started finding the answers they had been searching for. One of our wonderful GPs, who had a special interest in menopause, quickly recognised the growing need for high-quality care in this area, reinforcing the importance of our efforts.

When Covid struck, everything came to a halt as we faced the challenges of that unprecedented time. Patient safety and vaccinations became our top priorities, and for much of 2020 through to 2022, our focus shifted entirely to navigating the pandemic.

By this point, I had been working at the same practice for nearly 18 years. Throughout those years, I had witnessed countless changes, earned my Independent Prescribing qualification, and taken on the role of Cervical Screening Assessor for North Yorkshire—mentoring and signing off Practice Nurses as they learned to perform cervical smears.

While I truly loved my job and the opportunities it had afforded me, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had so much more to contribute, particularly in the realm of menopause care. It was clear to me that this was where my true calling lay.

In February 2023, I took a bold step away from the NHS and ventured into the corporate world, joining a prominent company called Peppy Health. As a Menopause Practitioner, I provided advice to clients through online chats, conducted video consultations, and prescribed HRT. The role was truly fantastic, and I had the privilege of working alongside an incredible team of talented nurses. Together, we supported over 35,000 clients, including some of the most recognisable names in air travel, social media, banking, and health insurance. All Practitioners received extensive training from the British Menopause Society (BMS) and had access to every clinical update as and when they were published. This meant every member of the team was giving out the most recent, evidence-based advice.

It was here at Peppy that Pearly and I first crossed paths. She was already part of the team, spearheading the creation of content for their app, managing client consultations, and hosting live online webinars. As I settled into this aspect of the job, I discovered a newfound love for presenting webinars. Nothing quite compares to the exhilarating terror in the two minutes leading up to going live in front of 225 people! My trusty post-it notes became an essential part of my setup—my computer and walls were covered in them, guiding me through each session.

Helping so many clients was incredibly fulfilling, and it truly felt like we were making a meaningful difference in the lives of countless women. However, I often found myself being asked by friends, family, and their networks how they could book an appointment with me. Sadly, my consultations were limited to employees of large corporate companies, leaving me unable to provide support to women outside that circle. This realisation was the turning point. The need for accessible, high-quality menopause care for all women became the driving force behind starting our own company. It was time to bridge the gap and reach the wider community that deserved this support just as much.

Pearly and I made the decision to create our own company—one that would be accessible to everyone. Geographically, we were just a stone’s throw away from each other, and our bond at Peppy was instant. It didn’t take long for us to discover we shared a deep passion for menopause care, and that shared enthusiasm became the foundation of our partnership. With determination and a shared vision, we ventured into the world of private menopause care. Let me tell you, the journey of setting up a small business is certainly not for the faint-hearted! But with unwavering commitment and a belief in what we could achieve, we embraced the challenges head-on.

Our journey to secure Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration was long and arduous, but absolutely essential for offering online healthcare advice and prescribing services. After seven months of tackling endless forms, drafting policies, producing protocols, and shedding the occasional frustrated tear, we finally received the green light in January 2025. 

Achieving CQC registration was a monumental milestone, especially as there are very few Menopause Nurse Prescribers providing the comprehensive services we offer. While there are countless menopause coaches out there—some exceptional, others less so—we stand apart in our ability to prescribe HRT when clinically appropriate, offering women the choice of treatment tailored to their needs.

And so, my journey has led me here—one half of the dynamic duo at Your Menopause Nurse! Together, we offer online menopause consultations across the nation and deliver face-to-face menopause education and support for businesses in North Yorkshire. We're also happy to come and speak at your event or your business about menopause., we've taken part in International Women's Day events and also contributed to business to business support. We actively participate in regular menopause training sessions, both in person and through a variety of professional online webinars. We tend to choose the online training to try and reduce our carbon footprint.

I couldn’t have accomplished this journey without my incredible family by my side. My husband, Glenn, has been an unwavering pillar of support every step of the way. My amazing sons, Dave and Sam Dunwell, have been my biggest cheerleaders, lifting me up and championing their mum with so much love and encouragement. I’m endlessly grateful for them.

So, my final words. . Whether it's via screen or in person, we're bringing menopause expertise straight to where it's needed—with enthusiasm, knowledge, and maybe even a few laughs along the way.

Thanks for reading!

Mell