"First visit to the clinic"

I attended Whiteabbey for my first colposcopy following an abnormal smear result. I was very nervous for this appointment and unfortunately the clinic was running behind, which led to a rushed experience that wasn’t the most comfortable.

In particular, I felt the process of the appointments (having patients undress before a consultation with the doctor) didn’t feel the most dignified, and likewise having to change into a gown in a side room off a corridor. I can’t help but compare this to a recent internal pelvic exam at another hospital where changing rooms opened straight into the examination room which felt much better, as I wasn’t in a state of undress in front of the general public like I was in Whiteabbey. 

Likewise after my procedure when a biopsy was taken and led to some (normal) bleeding, it was uncomfortable to stand and listen to the doctor discuss next steps, while acutely aware there was a decent amount of blood dripping down my leg and onto the floor. Definitely nothing staff haven’t seen before, but as a patient, it just wasn’t a situation where I was comfortable or in a place to listen to important information. It would be much more dignified if patients would be allowed to clean up and get dressed before this. 

I also wasn’t informed that a trainee GP would be present for my procedure.

The staff were all competent and professional, I just think quite rushed owing to being behind time and probably a bit desensitised to how invasive this clinic can feel from a patient's perspective. Had this been a second time visit it might have been a bit less jarring.