"Easy Screening Appointment - Important, But..."

I attended a routine breast screening at the community hospital; this wasn't my first, but I saw the necessity. However, due to a combination of factors, this was the most difficult experience of any department I've experienced over a number of years in Norfolk.

Why? Stress of face masks/we're all stressed, of course.

Difficulty communicating - hearing aids/plus background noise of machine, so hard to catch words and phrases.

Difficulty getting in position - I've used these machines before: uncomfortable/confusing, but this time there were repeated instructions and mispositioning, resulting in practitioner repeating 'left/right/up/this way' and much (person)handling, including two pushes to my stomach (which was apparently in the way of the XRay imaging). This left me feeling extremely stressed; I did not feel I was being treated respectfully or professionally.

I have tried to consider my problems with knee pain/arthritis, which made positioning uncomfortable, but really, the department must have many people less mobile/and more hearing impaired.

I know it's stressful in Covid times, I tried in every way to comply.

However, I have had a strong post-reaction to this; very physically, and have had to fight with Wellbeing techniques just to manage the next day.

I find it hard to contemplate any future screenings; I have spoken to my surgery, and hope their kind advice will help. But I do not think I will be able to return to same location/or alone, without significant improvements.

Sorry, I really support the NHS in these terrible times. I was not stressing about this appointment; my biggest fear was car parking!