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Experience after a mammogram

Posted By DMarieS

"Experience after a mammogram"

About: Crosshouse Hospital / Xrays & Scans

(as the patient),

I attended the x-ray department at Crosshouse Hospital, this was for a referral for a mammogram. The reception staff were welcoming and I was taken quickly. I was shown through and dressed in my gown and only waited moments to be taken in.

I was extremely nervous as I'd had experienced this procedure some 6 years earlier so knew it was sore and uncomfortable. I told the nurse I was worried as my left breast was extremely swollen and painful. The nurse was efficient and worked quickly through the procedure. It was extremely painful and by the end I had shed a tear. I was told I had done well and that my results would be with my doctor soon. 'Just get yourself changed and you can go' they said.

I got into the cubicle, started shaking and burst into tears, looking at severe redness on my chest area made me worse. I dressed in tears, walked out distressed and crying, I walked out of the hospital and collapsed outside on the kirb in a car bay, where I sat and cried until I could pull myself together before leaving. Surely there should be someone there afterwards to check patients, allow them a time to gather their thoughts. I had an onward journey of a bus then train, I found this extremely stressful. If I had been given time to pull myself together it would have been a much more manageable situation.

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Responses

Response from Eunice Goodwin, Patient Feedback Manager for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Quality Improvement and Governance Team, NHS Ayrshire and Arran 6 years ago
Eunice Goodwin
Patient Feedback Manager for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Quality Improvement and Governance Team,
NHS Ayrshire and Arran

I respond initially to most of the posts and ensure they are passed to the appropriate team whether they are compliments, observations or grumbles. It is important to make sure all issues are addressed and I try to encourage that to happen for all the posts as required.

Submitted on 29/09/2017 at 15:20
Published on Care Opinion at 15:35

picture of Eunice Goodwin

Dear DMarieS,

I am so sorry you were so distressed today after your mammogram. As a Mammographer (in a previous role), and a woman myself, I understand how scary and anxiety provoking this whole thing can be. The unthinkable thought is with us, we never consider that the problem can be anything other than a life-threatening one, although the vast majority of results (by far) are conditions that are not life-threatening. It can wind us up into a high state and keep us there until we get the results; it can be an extremely unsettling time. I think I would probably have had a coffee (and possibly one of those lovely scones) before starting back on my journey.

That said, you ask about someone being able to check you are okay, if you would like to talk this over with a member of the X-ray department point about having someone to I can arrange that for you. Please contact me on 01563 826222 or email me on eunice.goodwin@aapct.scot.nhs.uk if you would like that.

In the meantime, I will pass this on to the team for their awareness and reflection. this may be an example that while we endeavour to be efficiency, the knock-on effect for some people is that it is too rapid. We may be forgiven for thinking that most that most people want in and out as quickly as possible.

Thank you for raising this with us and I hope you have now recovered from your stressful day.

Best wishes,

Eunice

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Response from Eunice Goodwin, Patient Feedback Manager for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Quality Improvement and Governance Team, NHS Ayrshire and Arran 6 years ago
Eunice Goodwin
Patient Feedback Manager for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Quality Improvement and Governance Team,
NHS Ayrshire and Arran

I respond initially to most of the posts and ensure they are passed to the appropriate team whether they are compliments, observations or grumbles. It is important to make sure all issues are addressed and I try to encourage that to happen for all the posts as required.

Submitted on 16/10/2017 at 13:10
Published on Care Opinion at 15:43

picture of Eunice Goodwin

Hi DMarieS,

I spoke with the senior Mammographer and she would like me to post this response to you on her behalf.

"I’m really sorry to hear you were so distressed after your mammogram. I would be happy to speak with you about this if you would like. While we do try to make the process as uncomfortable and quick as possible, perhaps we need to take some time at the end of the examination as it is an extremely anxious time for most people.

Meanwhile, I will make staff aware that this has happened. We are looking at putting something in our cubicles that patients can see before they leave. Maybe we should also think about a general leaflet for after a mammogram.

If you would like to contact me, we can talk over your concerns/ideas of how you would have wanted things to go and help us to shape the information leaflet. Again may I say, I am that I am extremely sorry that you left our department feeling this way. Two number you may reach me on are - 01563 827112 or 01563 826087".

Angela

Angela Donnelly

Lead Mammographer

University Hospital

Crosshouse

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