"My attendance at this unit is an absolute delight"

Radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer

Lanarkshire Beatson at Monklands Hospital

I am in week three of a seven week course of radiotherapy for treatment of prostate cancer.

As I approached the new building on my first visit the feeling I had was one of admiration and expectation. The new and very modern design is in keeping with an up market office entrance vestibule with little to raise awareness that it is a treatment facility. I was immediately greeted and welcomed on a first name basis. At once I felt at ease by the warm and knowledgeable member of staff at reception. Full and very clear explanations were given to me about how the treatment would be administered. Great care was taken to make sure I was comfortable with everything I was hearing.

The treatment requires daily visits and each time I attend there is the same courteous and professional greeting, always with a smile.

The area where the treatment is delivered is a wing just off the main reception area. Here I met the staff who operate the Linear Accelerator (this is the Xray machine that radiates the cancer tissue). They all introduced themselves on a first name basis.

The treatment procedure was detailed and an explanation of how the LINAC (Linear Accelerator) operates given. I became aware of how exceptionally accurate this machine is and of the need for very special training in it’s use. The therapeutic radiographers who operate this state of the art equipment are highly skilled and I am constantly impressed by their exceptional attention to detail and cross referencing of safety procedures. It is abundantly clear that my health and safety are of paramount importance to them. The treatment itself is absolutely painless and the staff are very careful to respect my dignity as I lie within the LINAC. The treatment last minutes and when it’s over the staff always ask about what I have planned for the rest of the day.

My treatment is reviewed weekly by an independent member of staff who clearly has my overall health and welfare as priority.

I have great pleasure in writing that my attendance at this unit is an absolute delight. I hold the greatest respect and admiration for the staff who have the patient as their absolute top priority.

I am experiencing care and treatment being delivered by exceptionally highly skilled, genuine, caring professionals in facilities which are of the highest standard using world class equipment.

This is our NHS at it’s best!