That’s the worst pain of my life. I just felt violated
NHS accused of saving cash on anaesthetics for patients
a mum who endured a “barbaric” intimate procedure without pain relief has said she has never been through so much pain.
Campaigners are calling on the NHS to stop scrimping on their health after having to suffer unbearable pain while undergoing hysteroscopy procedures without anaesthetic or analgesia.
Shocked Agnes McQuillan, 57, had a hysteroscopy at Glasgow’s New Victoria Hospital but was forced to stop the procedure after only 10 minutes because she couldn’t endure it any longer.
Agnes, from Bearsden in Glasgow, said: “It was the worst experience. I was in complete shock. I just felt violated. The procedure is absolutely barbaric and the pain was awful. It probably comes down to money but they can’t scrimp on women’s health and expect them to suffer in agony.”
A hysteroscopy, where a needle- like rod with a tiny camera and surgical tools is passed through the cervix into the womb, is used to detect cancer, pre-cancer and benign abnormalities. After halting the procedure she later had the procedure again, this time under general anaesthetic.
Book company manager Agnes added: “I’ve had two children but even childbirth was nothing compared to this pain.” The Sunday Mail revealed last week that pressure group Campaign Against Painful Hysteroscopy (CAPH) has collated more than 3000 accounts of “pain, fainting and trauma during outpatient hysteroscopy” throughout the UK.
Some women reported being left with post-traumatic stress symptoms after undergoing the procedure and feel unable to have intimate relationships with partners whi le others avoid vital examinations such as smear tests.
Katharine Tylko, of CAPH, said: “We are calling for more anaesthetists to be funded and commissioned to provide safe general, regional and sedation anaesthesia for womb endoscopy patients who prefer to be unaware of acute pain.”
Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “These harrowing reports are a reminder of how far we have to go to improve women’s healthcare in Scotland.
“It’s unacceptable that so many women undergoing this invasive procedure have been left dealing with unexpected pain and given little or no pain relief.”
A NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) spokesman said: “We would like to apologise to Ms McQuillan for any distress she has experienced.
“All services provided by NHSGGC adhere to strict national guidelines, and as part of our commitment to highquality person-centred care. We strive to work with patients to help them make well-informed decisions about any procedures they undergo.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “NHS Scotland is receiving record funding. Decisions on treatment, including the use of anaesthetic or analgesia, are for doctors to make.”