Small changes from consumers suggestions
I had a phone conversation with the service manager for Breastscreen Gold Coast where I felt proud and touched. Last year whilst at at a seniors expo day I spoke to a lady on the Breastscreen stall regarding my concerns of being pushed to go private at my diagnosis appointment at Breastscreen.
One of my suggestions was consumers should be given a list of breast surgeons in the area, with their addresses, phone numbers, AND if they operate at public and/or private hospitals. I also suggested an approximate cost of gap payments for say lumpectomy, mastectomy, breast reconstruction so patients can choose knowing what the costs could be.
Well, my recent phone call resulted in my being sent the list of breast surgeons being now given to all newly diagnosed at Breastscreen on the Gold Coast with the surgeons addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals where they operate, being public or private. Costs were considered too difficult to monitor and their qualifications listed being inappropriate.
She also mentioned that staff were now instructed to talk to patients just diagnosed at Breastscreen to take a breath and take s day or so to take in the diagnosis before making any rush to see breast surgeons and to discuss with GP, family & friends and even Google the Doctors etc.
i was rapt to not only think one of my suggestions had come to fruition but that someone not only listened to a consumer, but actually actioned the ideas after researching.
So im encouraging any of us who feel strongly about an issue to be proactive. Write, phone or email the relevant person/s and pass on your ideas. “we can’t fix it if we don’t know it’s broke”. Many people complain and feel like it falls on deaf ears, but if we are proactive and have ideas for improvements or changes they may actually make a difference for the next person who would’ve encountered that issue.
Onwards and upwards, together we can and will make a difference.
One of my suggestions was consumers should be given a list of breast surgeons in the area, with their addresses, phone numbers, AND if they operate at public and/or private hospitals. I also suggested an approximate cost of gap payments for say lumpectomy, mastectomy, breast reconstruction so patients can choose knowing what the costs could be.
Well, my recent phone call resulted in my being sent the list of breast surgeons being now given to all newly diagnosed at Breastscreen on the Gold Coast with the surgeons addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals where they operate, being public or private. Costs were considered too difficult to monitor and their qualifications listed being inappropriate.
She also mentioned that staff were now instructed to talk to patients just diagnosed at Breastscreen to take a breath and take s day or so to take in the diagnosis before making any rush to see breast surgeons and to discuss with GP, family & friends and even Google the Doctors etc.
i was rapt to not only think one of my suggestions had come to fruition but that someone not only listened to a consumer, but actually actioned the ideas after researching.
So im encouraging any of us who feel strongly about an issue to be proactive. Write, phone or email the relevant person/s and pass on your ideas. “we can’t fix it if we don’t know it’s broke”. Many people complain and feel like it falls on deaf ears, but if we are proactive and have ideas for improvements or changes they may actually make a difference for the next person who would’ve encountered that issue.
Onwards and upwards, together we can and will make a difference.
