"Today not good but it would not change my belief..."

What I liked

Referral from my own doctor resulted in quick letter from the hospital, plus phone call as was concerned that I might not get the letter in time, quick appointment clear information and checking I was who I was! all very good.

Care and concern and constant information through the hysteroscopy procedure from the nurses all very good.

Ensuring I had a cup of tea and sit for 10 minutes after rather than rush off as I would have preferred to do - very good.

Follow up information and directions clear and excellent

What could be improved

Doctor assessment session upsetting.

I was asked a huge amount of verbal information re menopausal medications and history covering 12 years I did not have to hand (if I had been asked prior to appointment I could have found out and brought...).

Maybe my own doctor should have sent and there wasn't time for this to happen? I felt very unprepared in the interview and as there were 2 medical students observing I felt even worse and broke down.

I realise now that not all my notes were there as I had had a lot of treatment at wythenshawe hospital and my own doctor. It was obvious there had not been enough time for him to read what was there - so a lot of time spent flicking through papers and asking same questions over.

Contradictory responses (in relation to other advice followed from other doctors re better route through menopause), what felt like an accusation that i should have done something before and that he had never heard a history like it!

In the end I got really confused and worried I wasn't giving the correct history.

I then went in for the procedure and a biopsy and he continued asking me questions sometimes with his back turned. I was not relaxed. The initial instrument was a hurtful shock as there was no forewarning and I got really upset again. The nurses asked me if I wanted to stop and were so kind I couldn't control myself for a while but the procedure went ahead ( I gave permission)

I have never felt like that before in any of my other visits at Stepping Hill - I have always been happy and would give full praise.

Maybe I was just feeling very vulnerable as I had for the first time only had the seed planted in my head that this could be serious, ie the 'c....' word, but speaking about the experience to my husband and friends a bit more sensitivity and empathy would not have gone amiss!