"Amazing care from Breast Reconstruction team"

I had a mastectomy and DIEP reconstruction in May after a gruelling 5 months of chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Absolutely everyone I met before during and after my hospital stay were kind and understanding and helped me through this difficult part of my cancer treatment.

Mr Gilmour took time to explain my options and what to expect and is clearly an excellent surgeon with high standards for himself.  I had complete faith in his expertise.

On the day of surgery I was very anxious and Leanne in pre op was lovely.  The nurse in recovery was also fantastic (Kirstin I think).  My anaesthetist Amanda was very reassuring and understanding of my fears and somehow I managed to wake up feeling like I'd had a good sleep having been under anaesthetic almost all day so she must have done a good job!

The nurses on Ward 48 were without exception amazing.  I noted names of Shelby, Jackie, Laura, Jade and Caroline the HCA.  They had been working as a COVID HDU not long before reopening to plastics patients and this had obviously been a pretty traumatic experience for them all.  They were attentive to all my needs while remaining friendly and understanding.  Again I felt very safe and well looked after in their hands.

The physiotherapists on the ward were also great but I dont remember their names!

After discharge I had a few minor wound issues and Beth and Claire the breast reconstruction nurses were always available to contact by phone or email and there was no problem reviewing me quickly in outpatients when required.  I really appreciated having them and the wards contact details in the first few days if I had any worries and also seemingly small things like getting enough dressings and antibiotics from the pharmacy in OPD really helped when just post op and it is more difficult to get to your local GP/pharmacy.

All in all the team were fantastic and I would recommend them to anyone in my position.