"Outstanding treatment for breast cancer"

I was recalled from the breast screening programme following a routine mammogram on Monday 5th December. My first recall appointment to the Jarvis Centre was on Thursday 15th December and I had my operation as a day patient at the Short Stay Surgical Unit at RSH on Thursday 12th January. The speed and efficiency of the treatment has been exceptional, all at a time when there has, of course, been so much in the news about the challenges currently faced by the NHS.

The professional expertise, care and consideration given by my surgeon has been excellent. I have also been very impressed with the cohesiveness of the whole process. In particular, I would like to commend the following:

• the very good communication between the Jarvis Screening Centre and Royal Surrey Hospital.

Staff at the Jarvis Centre spoke very knowledgably about staff at RSH which helped to make my referral feel more comfortable than it might have done.

A consultation appointment at RSH was arranged for me by a Jarvis Centre nurse;

• the approach of the Breast Surgeon who on 28th December discussed my treatment plan but recognised that it would be supportive for me to also have the opportunity to meet my allocated surgeon to ‘put a face to my surgeon’ before the operation;

• the care and efficiency of an administrator, who was not in any way dealing with my treatment, but who happened to be the person I made contact with when I received an incorrect outpatients’ appointment letter.

They took the trouble to follow up the issue, to rearrange the appointment and to phone me back the same afternoon;

• the consideration of staff, in Admissions, who were keen to arrange my pre-operation assessment for the same day as my surgeon consultation surgeon to avoid additional visits to the hospital;

• the time and care taken by my surgeon during my first consultation with them, even though I had already been seen and examined by their colleague;

• the care of the breast nurses.

The nurses have always spent time explaining treatments and going through important details in the support literature I have been given;

• on 5th January, due to consultation appointments running a little over time there was a potential clash between my first appointment with my surgeon and my pre-operation examination. The breast nurses made a phone call to the pre-op nurses to reorder my two appointments thus ensuring that the afternoon ran smoothly. The pre-op nurses, in turn, reassured me that they would not have finished for the afternoon without having first completed my assessment;

The last two months have meant an unexpected period of considerable stress. The care for me, as an individual, and the cohesive approach of all involved has greatly helped to reduce the anxiety as much as possible and this has been very much appreciated.

I have been met, at all times, by a welcoming approach from RSH staff including members of staff who have just troubled to ask if I needed directions.