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My Journey from my cancer diagnosis

Posted By atdb1

"My Journey from my cancer diagnosis"

About: General practices in Tayside Glasgow Royal Infirmary / Medical Oncology Occupational Therapy / Occupational Therapy & Rheumatology Physiotherapy Physiotherapy / Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Physiotherapy Services / Orthopaedic Ward 8/1 - Physiotherapy

(as the patient),

My story starts during lockdown 2020 when I first started to have pain in my right hip.  After numerous online physio sheets I was having no progress and was eventually seen by one of the physio team at PRI.  This is where the journey through the NHS started.

My physio arranged a scan due to my pain but at no time was cancer thought of as no symptoms were presenting. It took 7 months for the scan to happen with back logs in appointments due to Covid but from then on all of my treatments and appointments have been amazing.  Within 4 days I was called and asked to come to see the doctor in Perth.  Their compassion and humanity was overwhelming and made a very difficult moment feel very personal - telling someone they had a rare form of bone cancer can't be easy.

I was scheduled to have surgery in October 22 under the consultant at Glasgow Royal infirmary. Again, their compassion and manner were amazing as were all of the staff in GRI from the cleaners and auxiliary staff to the nurses doctors and surgeons.  There is a down side though, the pressure and stress levels all of the staff were under was huge.  I had young nurses crying in my room due to the pressure they were under the feeling of not being able to give there patients the care they needed daily was making them think had they made the correct career choice? But through all this they gave there all every single day.

Due to staff shortages in Physio I was transferred to Ninewells hospital in Dundee to get more regular physio.  Once again the staff were all amazing and I made great progress with the help of my physio team.  Alongside Occupational health team they started to get me ready to come home and after 5 months in hospital 2 surgeries and many other hurdles I got home.

My journey now has entered the next phase of long term mobility with the amazing assistance of my OT and my physio my independence and confidence is growing daily. Any issues are resolved quickly and without their continued help and support I'm not sure where I would be,.

To sum up my experience, the NHS and all staff I have been lucky enough to meet have all been professional ,compassionate and caring human beings doing the toughest job you could imagine.  What these amazing people need is the resources to keep delivering the amazing service they provide.  I cant thank you all enough - there are so many more heroes.

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Responses

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 8 months ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 31/08/2023 at 17:04
Published on Care Opinion at 17:04

picture of Nicole McInally

Dear atdb1

Thank you very much for taking the time to share your story. I am very sorry to hear about your cancer diagnosis and I can't begin to imagine what you are going through.

You have mentioned that you had surgery at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and I am glad that the staff were 'amazing' and treated you with compassion during your hospital stay. As you have said the staff give it their all every single day, and it makes such a difference to staff when patients recognise their hard work and dedication, which helps boost morale.

Thank you and take care.

Best wishes

Nicole

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Response from Victoria Sullivan, Care Opinion Manager, NHS Tayside 7 months ago
Victoria Sullivan
Care Opinion Manager,
NHS Tayside

Manage Care Opinion within NHS Tayside and project manage and facilitate change programmes, transformation and service redesign across NHS Tayside and its surrounding Health & Social Care Partnerships

Submitted on 14/09/2023 at 17:08
Published on Care Opinion at 17:08

picture of Victoria Sullivan

Dear atdb1

Thank you for taking the time to share your cancer diagnosis journey and to convey your thanks to the NHS clinicians and staff members who have demonstrated exceptional compassion at many different sites and locations. Feedback is very valuable to all areas of the NHS, and I'm sure the staff at your GP practice will be pleased to hear how they impacted your experience on this journey. As each GP Practice is an independent business, we would recommend that you feedback your experience directly to the practice to allow this to be passed on to the staff. The Practice Manager there can give you with details of how to provide this feedback to them, as per their Complaints and Feedback Policy.

With best wishes

Victoria

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Response from Terrianne Thomson, Perth and Kinross Health & Social Care Partnership 7 months ago
Terrianne Thomson
Perth and Kinross Health & Social Care Partnership

Submitted on 21/09/2023 at 16:28
Published on Care Opinion at 16:47

Dear atdb1,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your journey and provide valuable feedback to all services involved in your care from the start to present day. It reassuring to know that at a difficult time from diagnosis and ongoing treatment and rehabilitation you received professional and compassionate care throughout from all parties involved. I will endeavour to share your feedback with all our rehabilitation services to know that you appreciated the level of care you received. We wish you well with your ongoing journey and bravery in sharing your story and thankyou.

Terrianne Thomson

Interim Clinical & Professional Team Manager

Advanced physiotherapist

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Response from Lynsey Ferguson, Physiotherapist, Ninewells Hospital Physiotherapy, NHS Tayside 7 months ago
Lynsey Ferguson
Physiotherapist, Ninewells Hospital Physiotherapy,
NHS Tayside

Submitted on 25/09/2023 at 16:18
Published on Care Opinion at 16:43

Dear atdb1,

Thank you for your feedback. I am pleased to hear you found your inpatient physiotherapy here in Dundee to be helpful on your road to recover. I will share this feedback with the acute team. We wish you all the best going forward.

Lynsey Ferguson

Team Leader Physiotherapist (Acute Medicine).

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