Let's build a unit we can be proud of

Steven Thrush said patients now wait three to four hours for initial assessments at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester but this time would be slashed to about one-and-a half hours once a dedicated unit is created.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has already provided the building near the Charles Hastings Education Centre which is currently used by managerial staff but campaign leaders need the £2.5 million to renovate it.

The unit will also have 30 dedicated car parking spaces so people visiiting it can avoid the well-publicised parking problems at the hospital, with a barrier to keep the spaces for breast patients only.

Mr Thrush said: “The new unit will improve the patient’s journey in terms of quality of care and experience and efficiency. People will receive care and treatment in a dedicated centre, designed for their needs, with everything planned and orientated towards why they are here.

“It will be a faster, smoother service in a pleasant non-institutional environment and a human scale, that is not anonymous, but stress-free and relaxing. It will be a flagship service that Worcestershire can be proud of.”

Mr Thrush took your Worcester News reporter on a tour of the existing breast care services and clinics to point out their shortcomings and the advantages of the new unit for patients and staff.

The journey begins in Sorrel Suite near the main entrance to the hospital, a general-purpose clinic which breast cancer patients have to share with other patients.

The waiting area is not air-conditioned and has just 24 seats when each clinic averages 60 patients.

The breast clinics are on different floors to the mammography and pathology suites and patients have to repeatedly dress and undress, adding to the stress they already face.

It was not designed specifically for breast cancer patients but as a general out-patients clinic and at busy times when there are GP emergencies, patients may have to wait in an overflow waiting room in the corridor where there is little privacy at a time when they may be told they have breast cancer.

Mr Thursh said: “We are looking to create a less clinical feel. It is never not going to be stressful because every patient may think that they have breast cancer, but we can improve their experience.”

Clinics are currently held in different places on different days, sharing facilities with urology, bowel, emergency and cardiology patients. They are not staffed by receptionists with specialist knowledge although the clinical team itself is highly specialised, consisting of three surgeons, two radiologists, three pathologists, three breast care nurses and two secretaries.

Fitting for a prosthesis after breast surgery takes place in an administration room which also contains patient notes and leaflets for patients. It has a curtain to give patients some privacy but is in an office with windows, which is not ideally suited to such a sensitive procedure.

The conditions are not ideal for staff either. Mr Thrush has a tiny office on the third floor which has no air-conditioning and is also some distance from where patients are seen.

Moving out of the main hospital will free up space for other services.

Mr Thrush also hopes the money will be able to fund a new ultrasound machine.

John Rostill, chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, also backed your Worcester News’s campaign.

He said: “I am delighted to support this scheme. It will build on an already successful service as demonstrated by the number of patients and former patients who have made favourable comments on the current service.

“This is a good example of a joint venture which will capture the imagination of the local population.”

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