Short answer: in the UK you do not need a GP referral to start HRT. You can go to your GP, but you can also self-refer to a private menopause service and be seen by a qualified prescriber directly. For many women that means no referral letter, and no NHS-style waiting list.
The two routes to HRT in the UK
Through the NHS. Your GP can assess your symptoms and prescribe HRT. British Menopause Society (BMS) guidance supports diagnosing perimenopause and menopause from your symptoms in women over 45, often without blood tests. This route is free on prescription in England if you have an HRT prescription prepayment certificate, but appointment availability and menopause experience vary from practice to practice.
Privately, by self-referral. You do not need anyone to refer you. Private menopause services let you book directly, and many are led by an independent nurse prescriber who can assess you and prescribe HRT where it is clinically appropriate, then arrange for it to be delivered. This is the route people mean by "no GP referral, no waiting list".
What "no GP referral" actually means
- •You book the appointment yourself, online, without a letter from your GP.
- •A qualified prescriber (a doctor or an independent nurse prescriber) assesses you.
- •If HRT is suitable, it is prescribed and can be delivered to your door.
- •You are not placed on an NHS waiting list to be seen.
What to check before you choose a private service
- •CQC registration: the clinical service should be registered with the Care Quality Commission (or the equivalent regulator in your nation).
- •A qualified prescriber: care should come from a GMC-registered doctor or an NMC-registered independent nurse prescriber, not an unregulated seller.
- •Proper assessment: a good service reviews your full history and follows up, rather than just posting you a product.
- •Honest safety screening: expect to be asked about things like a history of breast cancer, blood clots (DVT or PE), migraine with aura, or unexplained bleeding, because these affect what is safe for you.
How Solene fits
Solene is a nurse-led perimenopause and menopause service for women in the UK. You start with free, personalised advice from a short online check, then book a video consultation with a nurse prescriber working through a CQC-registered practice who can assess you and prescribe treatment, including HRT and testosterone where appropriate, with no GP referral and no waiting list. The point is not just access to a prescription, but care that is actually managed: your levels checked, your dose reviewed, and follow-up that does not stop at a single appointment.
This article is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Whether HRT is right for you, and which type, is a decision to make with a qualified prescriber who knows your history.
Not sure where to start with HRT?
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