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I was left feeling like a fraud

Posted By lcmm

"I was left feeling like a fraud"

About: Breast services / Breast Screening

(as the patient),

All the staff here were lovely apart from one doctor who was flippant and seemed uncaring.

I had my mammogram and was undressed and waiting for my ultrasound. This doctor asked me what I was there for and I showed them where it was. They immediately declared it was normal.

As the doctor began to scan me I said well I didn’t know what was normal or not. They then said they could 'stick a needle into it' to remove it and asked me should they do that?

I responded that I didn’t know what was the right thing to do. The doctor then proceeded to 'stick a needle into it' and showed me on the screen how it disappeared. They went out of the room. I was left feeling like a fraud and wondered why I had got this checked in the first place.

Next time I feel a lump I will not know what to do. I certainly do not want to attend this clinic again.

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Responses

Response from Marietta Connor, Breast Imaging Service Manager, Diagnostics, Western Health and Social Care Trust 6 months ago
We are preparing to make a change
Marietta Connor
Breast Imaging Service Manager, Diagnostics,
Western Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 25/10/2023 at 13:51
Published on Care Opinion at 15:50

picture of Marietta Connor

Hi Lcmm,

My name is Marietta Connor and I am the lead mammographer in the breast unit at Altnagelvin. Firstly, I am sorry that this was your experience on the day that you attended our clinic. It is important that anyone who is referred by their GP for concerns, feels comfortable to use the service when they need to. With this in mind I will bring forward your experience to the team for learning and share it with all disciplines including the Dr's who are involved with these clinics. I hope that this will go some way to reassure you that if you need to use the service again in the future you would feel comfortable to do so.

I would also use this opportunity to give you the information for the complaints department if you feel you would like to access that.

Telephone:02871611226

Email: complaints.department@westerntrust.hscni.net

Again, I apologise that your experience was not all negative and will gladly share the positive comment relating to the other staff so as to reinforce the importance of this to our service users.

I hope you will find reassurance in this response and the measures planned to address your concern.

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Response from Marietta Connor, Breast Imaging Service Manager, Diagnostics, Western Health and Social Care Trust 5 months ago
We have made a change
Marietta Connor
Breast Imaging Service Manager, Diagnostics,
Western Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 23/11/2023 at 10:43
Published on Care Opinion at 10:43

picture of Marietta Connor

Hi LCMM,

I just wanted to follow up that the experience you have had has been discussed at our recent team meeting and with clinicians attending the clinic. We hope that you speaking out about your experience has made a positive impact on service provision for future users.

Marietta

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