"A humiliating conveyor belt experience"

This review is NOT about Frimley Park Hospital, it is about the Frimley Hospital Trust mobile breast screening service. *I have not been able to find an outlet for me to leave feedback anywhere specifically about the breast screening service.

I had a mammogram today at the mobile unit in Bracknell Sports Centre car park. The experience was awful; not the mammogram procedure itself but the robotic and frankly rude radiographer's attitude. There was no friendliness shown just blunt instructions and a bit of sarcasm too. This is the first time I have had an NHS breast screening. I had my very first mammogram last November (privately) due to a concerning lump, which thankfully was not anything serious. What a different experience that one was compared to todays.

Sadly when I went for my first NHS mammogram appointment in March this year...(.again in the mobile unit at Bracknell Sports Centre) I was informed by another very abrupt radiographer that I couldn't have it done as there hadn't been 6 months since the previous private one I'de had. I tried to explain that I had been told by the Consultant in November 2017 to attend my NHS mammogram in March 2018, but was told by the radiographer that 'Consultants have no idea how the breast screening programme works' and told to come back in June.

I therefore re-booked my appointment through The Parapet. The previous radioraphers attitude was really awful so when I arrived this morning and saw a different radiographer I was really relieved. Unfortunately this lady today was just as unfriendly with zero bedside manner just like the first. Whilst I appreciate that it must be very monotonous seeing a constant stream of women coming through the doors and having to say and do the same things repeatedly, I also feel that having a mammogram is a very intimate procedure, and for some women like myself who have had previous concerns it can be very scary. A smile and a friendly approach would be so reassuring, very much appreciated and costs absolutely nothing.

I came away feeling humiliated and nothing but a number. Whilst I was getting dressed afterwards I could hear the next poor lady being spoken to in the same condescending way that I had been. Clearly my experience is not an isolated one.

How sad that this vital and very often life saving service has left such a nasty taste. Some urgent customer care training needed I think.