PMOS clinics: 'good start, but more can be done'

Jessica Pinel hopes the clinic is just the beginning of support for women with PMOS The launch of a pilot health check clinic for women with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) in Jersey has been described as "a good start", but "more... can be done" for the condition, the head of a health group has shared.

The metabolic condition, which affects up to one in eight women, changes how the ovaries work and was linked to infertility and weight gain, the UK's NHS shared . It was renamed PMOS from PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) in May to make it "more representative" of it as a whole-body condition .

The government shared its trial clinic would not diagnose the condition, but help those with PMOS to get further help with it and associated conditions, including type 2 diabetes. For related coverage, explore our detailed analysis on Technology and Digital Systems.

Added Women Pmos Would Updates

It added women with PMOS would need to go to their GP first to then be referred to the service, which will run at the Assisted Reproductive Unit in St Brelade from October. Chair of PMOS Jersey Jessica Pinel shared the trial clinic was in line with draft guidance from the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which advises annual checks so doctors can spot the wide-ranging health issues that can come with the complex condition.

Pinel was diagnosed with PMOS in 2023 after spending more than £3,100 for treatment and shared times were tough financially for a lot of people. She shared: "We need to realise that cost may be a barrier to people getting support, even if the cost is going to their GP.

But I think we do have to be grateful that we have had this service approved.

"Because the clinic is part of the government health system, it allows for referrals to be made into different pathways like endocrinology, dermatology, so it could actually allow for better support and reduce costs for women with PMOS." She added: "I think it's great to see things moving forward and, for women who are newly diagnosed, there's going to be a more joined-up approach and we're now taking the long-term health consequences of PMOS more seriously." Nurse Corrinne Purdy shared PMOS is "more common than people think" Screening clinic nurse Corrinne Purdy shared reviews for women with the condition would come with a range of checks, taking a more holistic approach.

Shared Will Whether They'Re Updates

She shared: "We will see whether they're getting on alright with their medication, how they're feeling about themselves; we will do height and weight reviews, we will ask them questions about their sleep, how they're managing their condition. "We will also speak to them about any particular fertility aspirations and how they're getting with their mental health as well." Purdy shared PMOS had been "overlooked" for a long time.

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She shared: "Women have been diagnosed and then not really had any sort of follow-ups... just been left to manage - whereas, actually, a lot of women struggle, particularly with some of the symptoms that come alongside it. "PMOS is...

a broad thing, and it can affect women in many different ways, and it's quite common as well, maybe more common than people think." More news stories for Jersey Listen to the latest news for Jersey The government shared it was providing a screening service as opposed to a treatment clinic and any women requiring specialist management for symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, fertility concerns or other gynaecological conditions would be referred to the most appropriate specialist service.

It added existing waiting lists for gynaecology or surgical capacity would not be affected as additional clinical capacity had been found. Assistant Minister for Health and Social Services Andy Howell shared a lot of women "have been suffering" with PMOS and it was hoped the new trial clinic would show "that we're taking them seriously and they're not going to be dismissed".

Howell shared funds for the clinic would be "managed within the budget that we have at the moment, so it's not going to cost us any more". The Health Department was allocated £381m to spend in 2026 as part of the government's budget for 2026-2029 .

Deputy Andy Howell shared women had "not been listened to in the past" The government shared the clinic would offer women access to investigations including ultrasound scans and endometrial biopsies during the same visit, which could not be provided at a standard GP appointment.

"This is great that women will have somewhere to come to and perhaps have a bit more time with a specialist nurse who they can talk to," the deputy added. Howell shared Jersey would base its review on the NICE guidelines, with Pinel adding the aim of the clinic was to listen to feedback of women using the service and to feed back to the practitioners to "make sure that we are optimising the support for people with PMOS and they're getting the best possible service they can".

Follow BBC Jersey on X , external and Facebook , external . Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk , external . Removing tax from sanitary products 'pointless' PCOS name change 'more representative of condition' GP says more women going to the UK for treatment