Volunteers Wanted for Breast Cancer Clinics

2 October 2000

The West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust is looking for Breast Clinic Volunteers to play a very important role in the Breast Clinic at the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.

For those interested a Volunteer Evening is to be held in the outpatients department at the hospital on 11 October between 7.30pm and 9pm.

"We are hoping to attract people who have had breast cancer, preferably two years post operative, and feel they could support patients during their time in clinic," said Ann Eastwood Clinical Nurse Specialist, Breast Care.

"The volunteers are important members of the multidisciplinary team. They bring an understanding of the complex emotions women may be feeling and can chat informally as they escort them to and from departments to have different scans and tests," she said.

The clinic was established to ensure women, referred by their GP, are seen by a breast surgeon and undergo any necessary tests on the same day. Rapid access to the service is very important as the detection of a lump can be an extremely stressful experience. The assessments can include mammography, ultrasound, core biopsy and fine needle aspiration.

The duties of the Breast Care Volunteers are mainly to help the Breast Care Nurses during clinics by supporting the patient and family, making sure patients arrive at the right department for assessment and delivering and collecting specimens and test results.

Volunteers can offer their telephone number to patients and if requested visit patients on the wards.

"The evening is also open to younger patients, under 50, who would like to form a Support Network/Group. We have received many requests for such a group and this would be an Excellent opportunity for those interested, to get together to decide how this can be taken forward" said Ann Eastwood.

For further information about the evening, the role of Breast Care Volunteers and the support network please contact the Breast Care Nurses on 01284 713281.