Jersey launches pilot PMOS screening clinic
Jersey's government has launched a pilot screening clinic for women with Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), a condition affecting up to one
A new pilot clinic for women with Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) has been launched in Jersey. The government-run service will begin operating at the Assisted Reproductive Unit in St Brelade this October.
Jessica Pinel, Chair of PMOS Jersey, described the clinic as "a good start". She said, "more... can be done" for the condition. Pinel was diagnosed in 2023 after spending over £3,100 for treatment.
The clinic is aligned with draft guidance from the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). NICE advises annual checks to spot the wide-ranging health issues linked to PMOS. The metabolic condition, which affects up to one in eight women, changes how the ovaries work. The NHS links it to infertility and weight gain.
How the new clinic will operate
The government clarified this is a screening service, not a treatment clinic. Women must first visit their GP to get a referral. The clinic will not diagnose PMOS but will help those with it access further support for the condition and associated issues like type 2 diabetes.
Screening clinic nurse Corrinne Purdy outlined the holistic approach. Reviews will include checking medication, feelings, height, weight, sleep, and mental health. Fertility aspirations will also be discussed. "Women have been diagnosed and then not really had any sort of follow-ups... just been left to manage," Purdy said. She noted the condition had been "overlooked" for a long time.
The clinic will offer investigations like ultrasound scans and endometrial biopsies during the same visit. These cannot be provided at a standard GP appointment.
Addressing costs and wider support
Cost is a recognized barrier. Pinel noted financial times are tough. She argued the government service could reduce costs by allowing referrals into different pathways like endocrinology and dermatology. Assistant Minister for Health and Social Services Andy Howell stated funds would be "managed within the budget that we have at the moment". The Health Department was allocated £381m to spend in 2026.
The government said additional clinical capacity had been found. Existing waiting lists for gynaecology or surgical capacity would not be affected. Women needing specialist management for symptoms like heavy bleeding or fertility concerns will be referred to appropriate services.
A shift in approach and naming
The condition was renamed from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) to PMOS in May. The change aims to make the name "more representative" of it as a whole-body condition.
Howell said a lot of women "have been suffering" and the clinic shows "that we're taking them seriously". Pinel said the aim is to listen to user feedback to optimize support. For newly diagnosed women, she said, "there's going to be a more joined-up approach."
