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Nothing offered to patients

Posted By Loobs

"Nothing offered to patients"

About: West Scotland Breast Screening Centre

(as the patient),

Referred here by GP after discovery of lump in breast (during corona virus lockdown).     Shielding for my husband and to some extent myself (diabetes) so was a reluctant to go to Glasgow as was fairly sure would be something minor.     Had a truly awful experience.  

Staff are very well protected with PPE but absolutely nothing offered to patients - no hand gel, no opportunity for handwashing, no face mask and no indication that staff were even changing gloves between patients - didn't change gloves in consulting room either at start or end of consultation, which would have been reassuring.     To top it all, examination took about 60 seconds, told me the breast tissue was normal and the same on both sides, despite there being a defined lump on one breast that is NOT on the other.     No test, no ultrasound, no explanation of what the lump, which appeared out of the blue three weeks ago, was.     Don't think they even found it.  

Wish I hadn't put my husband's life at risk - won't be doing again.   Will however make sure that my experience is recorded should anything happen to me.

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Responses

Response from Rachel Pyle, Patient Experience Project Manager, Patient Experience Team, NHSGGC 3 years ago
Rachel Pyle
Patient Experience Project Manager, Patient Experience Team,
NHSGGC

Submitted on 15/06/2020 at 15:33
Published on Care Opinion at 15:33

picture of Rachel Pyle

Hello Loobs,

Thank you for taking the time to share this post with us on Care Opinion. I am very sorry to read of your experience. It does not meet with the standard of care we expect for our patients and you have raised a number of concerns we would welcome the opportunity to look into in more detail. Could you please share your name, date of birth and CHI Number (if you have it to hand), so that we can investigate for you? My address is Rachel.pyle@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Best wishes,

Rachel

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Update posted by Loobs (the patient)

Thanks Rachel. I'll email you directly.

Update posted by Loobs (the patient)

An interesting follow up on this story. In March of this year, some nine months after my horrific experience, I was called in for my usual breast screening. Within a week I received notification to attend at the West of Scotland Breast Screening Centre as an abnormality required further investigation. I had to think long and hard about attending here again after the last experience, but to cut a long story short, I went. I discovered that an abnormality was detected exactly where the lump that I could feel (and the original staff member couldn't) the previous June. The staff this time were absolutely terrific and they had no problem at all finding the lump. A biopsy of the lump was taken and thankfully I later discovered that it was benign. I also found out during this visit that the staff and consultant that I saw the previous June were not actually the usual Screening Centre medical staff but actually staff from the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, who were using the premises at that time.

Although thankfully, the lump turned out to be benign, it staggers belief that it could have been otherwise and that I could have been 9 months further along with a cancerous lump that was not detected the first time. I feel the service from RAH staff was poor, nay a reckless service and I am annoyed about the distress and upset that was to caused me and my family.

And apologies and many thanks to the staff of the WOS Breast Screening Centre for a very different experience from nurses and doctors who I felt really know what they are doing and how to treat patients. Thank you.

Response from Marion Inglis, Business Manager, West of Scotland Breast Screening Service, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2 years ago
Marion Inglis
Business Manager, West of Scotland Breast Screening Service,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 31/07/2021 at 12:24
Published on Care Opinion on 02/08/2021 at 14:32

Hello Loobs

There really is no need to apologise where previous negative comment was received – it is important we receive and act upon both negative and positive feedback. I remain disappointed that your previous visit was clouded. Whilst this was to a secondary care clinic relocated to the centre we did work closely with the team during this time. I will therefore ensure your comments are again shared with them.

On behalf of the West of Scotland Breast Screening Service I would like to thank you for your kind words around the care you received during your most recent attendance at the Centre. I am glad this appointment met your expectations and will pass your feedback on to the breast screening team who will be delighted to hear of this.

Again many thanks and best wishes

Maz

Marion Inglis

Business Manager

West of Scotland Breast Screening Service

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