Lilly Croucher meets Consultant Gynaecologist Anne Henderson who has just opened her specialist clinic The Amara on The Pantiles…
The Amara clinic is a women’s health clinic which provides bespoke health and menopause care in a safe and private space in the heart of Tunbridge Wells.
It is led by Anne Henderson, a Consultant Gynaecologist and renowned British Menopause Society Accredited Specialist who is one of only 200 specialists across the UK.
With over 30 years of experience, Anne leads a multi-disciplinary team offering a range of services including advice and support on perimenopause, menopause and HRT, gynaecology and mental health support.
The clinic, which opened in September 2022 and is based in Linden Close near The Pantiles, also provides ultrasound scanning, blood tests and other diagnostic investigations.
After graduating from the University of Cambridge, Anne spent four years doing a postgraduate specialising in menopause, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and post-natal depression.
She was a consultant gynecologist within the NHS for 17 years and now practises privately. Anne is passionate about women’s health, HRT and complementary therapies including herbal medicine, diet, lifestyle changes and supplements, which she discusses in her 2021 book ‘Natural Menopause’, published by Dorling Kindersley.
“There is no question that menopause and HRT are now key health issues and the demand for high-quality expert advice continues to increase,” states Anne.
According to the NHS, there are 13 million women in the UK, a third of the female population, who are menopausal.
Following the publication of the National Institute for Health & Care Excellence Menopause Guideline, and the support from celebrities like Davina McCall, more women are taking charge of their own menopausal health and have started seeking out more specialised support.
Anne adds: “Since the pandemic, more women have definitely been taking their health into their own hands. They have become more self-aware and less reliant on GP advice with access to education, social media and TV.
“Most of them cannot get appointments due to the demand and pressure on the NHS so huge numbers of women are turning towards private clinics.
“I am seeing patients who maybe two or three years ago would never have contemplated private healthcare but are now seeking treatment.”
Anne established The Amara Clinic with the aim of providing a one-stop clinic that is safe, regulated and highly effective in treating all women.
“I wanted to create a clinic which is centered around a core expertise but also provides a seamless in-house process with a full range of holistic services to deliver exactly what women want.”
The Amara Clinic is one of a select number of consultant lead women’s health clinics in the South East.
The benefit of this means everything from prescriptions to procedures can be done in-house through a seamless process that doesn’t require external referrals which a GP-led menopause clinic would.
As a result, patients receive a high level of expertise with continuity of care (and a consultant-led service) as they continue to see the same practitioner each time. The clinic is led by women for women, treating every woman’s case as unique with personalised treatments for each patient.
The Amara Clinic currently performs surgical procedures at KIMS hospital, Kent and No 25 Harley Street, London but will be expanding the clinic to offer in-house procedures at a new site opening in Spring 2023.
“Next year, the clinic will be expanding to a beautiful 10-room Georgian building in Tunbridge Wells complete with an operating theatre to continue our in-house treatments available to our patients,” adds Anne.
“The new clinic will be established with the aim of providing a complete one-stop clinic, which is fully regulated and provides a wide range of expertise.”
Most excitingly, the new site will also be a partnership with the highly acclaimed Private Clinic Group, including the Cosmetic Skin Clinic, which was originally established by Dr Tracy Mountford.
The site will become the UK’s first fully accredited combined women’s health and non-surgical cosmetic clinic, becoming a bespoke one-stop clinic with everything under one roof.
“Tracy and I, together with the Private Clinic Group Team, have a long-standing ambition to create the safest possible service for women. This is why we are fully-regulated by the highest accreditations.
“Both clinics have a fully-trained team of staff comprising of GPs, nurses, physios, therapists, mental health practitioners, pharmacists and nutritionists to provide the highest quality service for patients.”
Last December, The Amara Clinic had its official launch party which was attended by local businesses, doctors, nurses, medics and the practice team in a large festive tent with cocktails and street vendors.
Having been open for only four months, Anne is delighted with how the clinic is progressing and is now looking forward to this year when her new partnership and second clinic will be both launched.
“My first clinic has been exactly what I hoped for, if not better than I had planned and dreamed of. How often can you say that?”
The Amara Clinic
2 Linden Close, Tunbridge Wells TN4 8HH
Tel: 03333222122
