Musgrove Park Hospital launches breast cancer Service Pledge

Musgrove Park Hospital have worked with Breakthrough Breast Cancer to launch their Service Pledge for breast cancer on 21st January. 

Breakthrough’s Service Pledge was developed by as a tool for healthcare professionals and their patients to work together to improve breast cancer services.

Breast cancer patients at Musgrove Park Hospital were asked about the services they received and about any improvements they would like to see. The Service Pledge outlines suggestions made by patients which the hospital is now working towards. They include:

• Improving the support group information given to patients
• Using a display board or screen with up-to-date information about the department and support services.
• Having a separate exit from the department after diagnosis, so patients no longer have to walk through the waiting room
• In the long term, having single sex wards and dedicated breast cancer beds.

Every person diagnosed with breast cancer at Musgrove Park Hospital will be given a copy of the Breakthrough Service Pledge, letting them know the services they can expect, how the unit intends to continue improving its service and how patients can let staff know if they think something can be done better.

Breast Care Nurse Judy Reeves, who is leading the Breakthrough Service Pledge project at Musgrove Park Hospital, says: “Undertaking the patient surveys and interviews with Breakthrough's Service Pledge has given us a stronger sense of the issues that matter most to our patients, of what we do well and of areas of our service which could be improved. We have worked with our patient representative and looked at the survey feedback to develop improvement goals. We are committed to achieving these and will continue to seek feedback on our service from our patients.”

Local MP Jeremy Brown who launched the Service Pledge at Musgrove Park Hospital said:  “Participating in Breakthrough’s Service Pledge for Breast Cancer is an important step towards providing the best possible breast cancer services which I support completely. Patients at Musgrove Park Hospital will be able to work in conjunction with the health professionals who treat them and have their views listened to more effectively. This will ensure local women have a real voice and that hospitals are working towards high standards of care.”

Ruairi O’Connor, Head of Health Services Improvement and Influencing at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: “We are delighted that Musgrove Park Hospital has committed to improving its service through Breakthrough’s Service Pledge for Breast Cancer. Straightforward suggestions from patients can make a big difference to services and do not have to be expensive to have a real impact on their experience.

“It is vital that the nearly 46,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK receive a quick diagnosis and the highest quality treatment, care and information. Services may differ across the country but the pursuit of high standards should be universal. We believe that by using Breakthrough’s Service Pledge for Breast Cancer, and really listening to the views of patients, Musgrove Park Hospital can play its part in achieving this goal.”