"Breast Screening (Mammogram)"

I had a routine mammogram today at the QEQM Wing in St Mary's, Paddington, it was one of the least pleasant mammograms I had taken and left me feeling quite vulnerable.

Although the set up is quite good with a lockable changing room that opens directly (via a second door) in the screening room, I don't think the staff have really thought about their procedure once you're in the scanning room.

I was told to take off my top and bra, then slip my top back on and go into the screening room.  The staff member then told me to remove my top so I was just there in the middle of the room, naked from the waist up whilst they went through some questions on the computer and set the scanner up.

After the scans were taken, again, I was just left standing there, half naked, whilst they checked the images and asked me some medical history questions before telling me I was finished and could get dressed and leave.

I understand why the mammogram itself requires you to be naked above the waist, but just being left to stand there, half naked, whilst routine questions were asked and the scans looked at felt a bit humiliating and left me feeling a like I wasn't worth any respect and dignity.

Maybe the staff do so many mammograms that they're just focussed on getting people in and out as fast as possible and have forgotten to see their patients as people with feelings? 

I can't see how allowing me to cover myself up during the routine questions and post scan image checking would've have hindered the process.  It certainly would've helped me feel more like a person and less like a piece of meat.  I felt a bit emotional and vulnerable when I left, and given a choice, I wouldn't go back to St Mary's for a mammogram.