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"Small tweaks could vastly improve an already great service"

About: Aberdeen Royal Infirmary / Breast Services

(as a service user),

The care and attention was fantastic and the breast cancer nurses were amazing. Surgery first class and the scar left is almost invisible 14 months later. Care was great from start to finish including the theatre staff, and prosthetic nurse who was also fabulous. My outcome and prognosis is good 14 months on from my initial mammogram.

I do think more needs to be done regarding the psychological challenges a person goes through. The breast cancer nurses are very busy and do their best but a dedicated person to talk to would be invaluable.

I also reached out regarding my wound as my body reacted to the sutures and in the end had to deal with this on my own and as a nurse I have knowledge. Part of the suture had worked its way out of the wound and into a tight line along the scar, which i cut, but a few balls of the suture had formed at each end of the scar and in the middle causing small infected lumps and I had to remove this with a sterile needle which gave instant relief and quickly healed with antiseptic cream and keeping the wounds clean. I called the breast cancer ward several times and no one got back. I also spoke to someone about a seroma but in the end I purchased a pressure garment which dealt with this issue without any further issues after researching on the Internet.

I will always be hugely grateful for the care and attention from the staff at ARI, and they are under enormous pressure and do their very best. I think with small tweaks ARI could vastly improve an already great service. 

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Responses

Response from Nataleigh McGonagle, Senior Charge Nurse, Breast Outpatients, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, NHS Grampian 12 months ago
We are preparing to make a change
Nataleigh McGonagle
Senior Charge Nurse, Breast Outpatients, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary,
NHS Grampian
Submitted on 04/06/2024 at 11:34
Published on Care Opinion at 11:53


picture of Nataleigh McGonagle

Good morning Aliso5,

Thankyou for taking the time to feedback on your experience of the breast service. I am glad to hear that for the most part your experience has been a positive one where you felt the care and attention you received was fantastic. We are very aware of the support needed by those following diagnosis and treatment and how this impacts overall wellbeing and healing. As you mentioned, we have a great team of breast care nurses and we also work closely with external partners to provide holistic support however we acknowledge that on this occasion we have not been able to provide the support and guidance that we aim to and for this we are sorry.

We are currently working hard to review our workforce and are undertaking significant changes across our nursing team to improve our service and provision. We are cognisant that the role and workload of the breast care nurse team is prioritised as we make these changes.

I am glad to hear of your good prognosis and wish you all the very best in your recovery. Thank you again for your feedback.

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Response from Nataleigh McGonagle, Senior Charge Nurse, Breast Outpatients, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, NHS Grampian 10 months ago
We are preparing to make a change
Nataleigh McGonagle
Senior Charge Nurse, Breast Outpatients, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary,
NHS Grampian
Submitted on 31/07/2024 at 12:38
Published on Care Opinion at 12:48


picture of Nataleigh McGonagle

Good afternoon Aliso5,

I wanted to update you of the progress of our change now that it has been a few months since your feedback. I am pleased to report that we have taken significant steps in assessing and progressing the changes we identified as being required. However, I am also aware that changes to way of working and workload can take time to be reflected from patient perspective in any meaningful way. I anticipate that initial changes will not be fully felt by patients and staff alike until the early part of next year. With a further long term plan of role extension and team development over the next five years.

I would like to empathise however that we are here to support the patient through diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Should you have any further clinical concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Macmillan navigator service on 01224 551551 who will alert the breast care nurse and clinical nurse specialist team.

Thank you once again for taking the time to feedback on your experience and I wish you well in your continued recovery.

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