"I heard them suggest that this was a waste of time"

Hi,

I attended Hairmyres Breast screening as I had pain in my breast. I was seen by the nurse practitioner who was professional and thorough.

I was sent for a mammogram.

The lady who did my mamogram was amazing. She was professional, thorough, also gentle and kind. She made a painful experience much more bearable. I felt that she really cared about me in a very short  period of time. I was then taken to have an ultrasound. I was asked to wait in the small changing room.

This is a message to the ultrasound staff - patients in the changing room can hear what you are saying.

I heard a staff member take a phone call.

I heard them suggest that this was a waste of time, that an ultrasound wasn't needed, that they wished mammogram would just send people on their "merry" way.

I have a high instance of cancer in my family and I did not feel "merry". Although the conversation was overheard, I feel the attitude does not belong in such caring environment.

The whole conversation I heard - the attitude came across as arrogant, unprofessional and gung ho.

I was handed a letter and asked to return to the Nurse Practitioner who advised me that my pain was muscular.

I am very relieved that it was muscular but I feel that the experience at ultrasound let an otherwise brilliant team down.