"Lack Of Privacy And Dignity"

I attended Gynaecology Department at Salford Royal. I had been referred by my GP because of concerns over fibroids. I saw a junior doctor who asked me why I was in the clinic and what I wanted. As I didn't know what the fibroids were I didn't have that information. This doctor kept going to ask a colleague doctor in another room what to do and didn't seem to know why I was there or what I wanted.

The doctor asked to examine me. There was a large window that was not covered and although I was on the second floor I felt exposed undressing.

People kept walking in and out of the room without knocking. Whilst undressed from the waist down a woman walked in unannounced and started telling me to get on with it. She didn't introduce herself. Eventually the junior doctor said she was there as a chaperone.

The doctor was looking at me down below and asking whether I had seen a skin doctor. I told the junior doctor I was in too much pain to complete the examination. I was told to get dressed, but they didn't pull the curtain across the bed whilst I put my underwear back on. I felt rushed and embarrassed. The doctor had no diagnosis for me and again had to keep asking this other doctor in another room what to do. The doctor just told me to make an appointment in six months. I felt I had got nowhere and don’t know how serious the fibroids are.

On the way out the person who was a chaperone was stood with another healthcare assistant and they fell about in guffaws of laugher because my clothing was tucked in my underwear as I had not been given time to get dressed. I went red in the face with embarrassment.

I contacted PALS about this issue but heard no further.