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12 December 2011 01:00
Healthcare
Breast cancer pledge event is a success
The Grantham Breast unit pledged to further improve local breast cancer services with the unveiling of a plaque at Grantham and District Hospital.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, working alongside Breakthrough Breast Cancer, has asked a number of breast cancer patients at Lincoln County Hospital, Grantham and District Hospital and Pilgrim Hospital in Boston for their opinions about the services they received and any improvements that they think could be made.
An event took place on Thursday 8 December to unveil a new official plaque to say that the unit aims to further improve local breast services. The event, themed around tea and cup-cakes, was attended by staff, current and former patients, volunteers and representatives from Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
Jo Churchill, Volunteer Patient Representative, has worked with staff at Grantham and District Hospital and Breakthrough to help develop the updated service pledge. She said: “After a diagnosis of cancer working with other women to provide the information to drive best practice at Grantham and District Hospital via the service pledge has been an honour and a privilege.
“As a mother of four teenage girls it was important that I remained strong after my diagnosis and a year on I feel fitter and more blessed than ever.”
Nicky Turner, Breast Care Nurse at Grantham and District Hospital, organised the invite-only event at the hospital. She said: “Patient’s thoughts and opinions have helped to develop a service pledge. The pledge sets out the standards of care patients can expect, what further service improvements people can expect in the future, and how patients can make their voice heard if they think something can be done better.
“I would like to thank my colleagues within the breast team at Grantham for their support and ideas when developing the re-launch of the service pledge.”
The pledge was originally launched in 2006 – but the recent work has helped the Trust to re-evaluate the information booklet and pledge making sure everything is up-to-date.
Anyone diagnosed with breast cancer and receiving treatment in Lincoln, Grantham or Boston will be given a copy of the service pledge booklet – to allow them to understand what their experience within the unit will involve.
The new pledge booklet that patients will receive provides clear information, outlining what people can expect as well as helping to provide reassurance.
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