LOCATED in the quiet corner of the hospital site, the Worcestershire Breast Unit, on 220 Newtown Road, offers a comprehensive service under one roof for women and men for all breast-related health issues.
With five consulting rooms, imaging suite and state-of-the-art equipment, consultant breast surgeon Steven Thrush believes it is the ‘simple things’ that matter the most.
He said: “It is so close to the hospital but it feels very different. It doesn’t feel like a standard clinic, there is no hustle and bustle. There’s comfortable chairs and a coffee machine, it is not like your typical waiting room.
“A lot of the ideas for the unit have come from our patients.
“It is the simple things like having different exits, so if people have had some bad news they have some privacy. Mirrored glass has also been installed throughout.
“You can’t be telling someone the worst thing possible and have someone nearby on the phone, this is a place where you won’t be overheard.
“This is about looking after the individual, not the disease.”
The unit offers an integrated service enabling patients to receive results and treatment quicker. It also boasts spacious waiting rooms and a large car park.
Supported by Haven, one of the biggest breast cancer charities in the UK, the clinic also offers free, one-to-one emotional support and complementary therapies for people affected by breast cancer.
Helping people deal with their diagnosis and subsequent treatment, the aim is to offer relief from the side-effects of breast cancer treatment and to help deal with the emotional impact.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust chief executive, Chris Tidman, said: “With 5,000 people expected to visit in a year, the unit provides vital space, both office and clinic rooms away from the busy-ness of the main hospital.”
Meanwhile Mr Thrush intends to plant a medicine garden at the back of the unit to encourage wildlife, as well as expand the service.
He said: “We are always looking at how we look after our patients from screening to treatment and support. We are very excited about the future of the breast care unit and we will continue to develop the service.”
