HEALTH BOARD FOCUSSING ON IMPROVEMENTS

BECAUSE of her concerns about her NHS waiting time, Siobhan submitted a complaint to Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board.

Responding to her complaint, the health board apologised and undertook a review. It was found that Siobhan was referred to the breast clinic under the correct National Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on treatment of breast lumps.

The guidelines state: “Consider non-urgent referral in people aged under 30 years with an unexplained breast lump with or without pain.”

Responding to the long wait following Siobhan’s second – and this time urgent – referral, the health board said: “At this time, the urgent waiting list within the breast service was under significant pressure because of the pandemic and our waiting times were longer than we would have liked... Pre-covid urgent referrals would ideally be seen within eight weeks.”

A spokesman for the health board has since told us that funding from the Welsh Government would focus on key areas of immediate improvement. It also stated that a new breast unit and mobile endoscopy unit were being commissioned for use at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital to benefit patients in the health board.

Siobhan said she hoped her story would help raise awareness of the importance of checking for lumps – no matter how young you are.

A spokesperson for Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB said: “We cannot comment on individual cases but recognise that our cancer waiting times are not where they should be. Now, working with our regional partners, and benefitting from the Welsh Government’s investment in planned care, we are focussing on key areas of immediate improvement. As a result of increased investment in specialist workforce and equipment, we expect to realise significant benefits to patients. We are focused on pathways that have recently been challenged with sustained increases in referrals, including breast and colorectal services, they have also been equally challenged by staff sickness and infection control measures.

“Consequently, a new Breast Unit (supported by an immediate £1m investment in a specialist cancer clinical workforce) and a mobile endoscopy unit, are currently being commissioned for use at Royal Glamorgan Hospital, which will have benefits for patients across the whole of Cwm Taf Morgannwg. We would like to apologise to our patients in acknowledgement of any increased anxiety this may cause and remain committed to reducing our waiting times and improving services locally.”