"Quick response following positive Bowel screening"

I am writing our story about my husband who went for a colonoscopy at Monklands District General Hosptial Endoscopy Unit in July 2014 with Dr M Gangi.

My husband had been encouraged to carry out the bowel screening service that is offered to patients over the age of 50, my husband felt uneasy about carrying out the test as many other men and women do as its not an easy subject to discuss however following discussions he decided this is a test that could potentially save his life and that of our family as we have a young son who is only one at the moment. His first test came back positive and as he didn't want to worry me I had to tease the information from my husband. He eventually admitted that it was positive and then had to carry out a further more sensitive test this also came back positive.

We both became quite anxious at the thought of the potential for bowel cancer thus we phoned the local hospital for advice and I have to say they reassured us not to worry until the proper colonoscopy had been carried. We got referred to Monklands Endoscopy Service which was a relief as we live in Airdrie.

We got sent all the necessary information and paperwork and got a referral very quickly which again this helped to ease our minds.

The receptionist at Monklands Pauline was fantastic and made our experience from the start of our journey as easy as possible. The staff are very approachable and friendly with complete professionalism in every way, we both cannot thank each and every one of them enough and will be forever grateful.

When you are nervous and anxious at the thought of a colonsocopy it is important that you feel secure and confident in the test and the staff made us both feel at ease. On arrival on the day we got to meet with Robert and Liz who are nurses who work in the department they had a smile for us and told us not to worry and that we would be taken good care of, we could tell they both cared and that made all the difference.

e cannot thank the staff at Monklands enough for the help and care that they provided for my husband and we would highly recommend and commend the department in every way and to every patient in NHS Lanarkshire.

The endoscopy manager Lorna approached us on the day and again made us feel at ease and explained the procedure very clearly. Another member of staff we would like to commend is Betty who was with my husband throughout his procedure who is a wonderful nurse with a fantastic approach with patients. Again Betty made my husband and I feel at ease and throughout his colonoscopy. The skilled endoscopist Dr Gangi was fantastic and my husband felt the test itself was straight forward and felt although uncomfortable at times the test was not painful due to the skill of the endoscopist.

My husband and I would like to once again thank all of the department and especially Dr Gangi, who did find 3 polyps but thankfully no bowel cancer was present.

As a mother and a wife I would like to commend Monklands endoscopy unit and thank the team from the bottom of our hearts for the professionalism, care and skill that was provided to my husband on his journey.

We would encourage patients to carry out the bowel screening and 110% recommend referral into Monklands Endoscopy Unit, a fantastic department in every way. Thank you from us and our son, July 2014