New breast cancer unit opens in Yeovil
The Maple Unit is the result of a five year long community campaign
Last updated 7th Oct 2024
A new breast cancer unit has opened at Yeovil Hospital.
The Maple Unit is the result of a five year long community campaign run by the Yeovil Hospital Appeal.
It's the hospital's first stand-alone, purpose-built breast cancer unit, with a dedicated area for difficult conversations, and a waiting area, away from other busy outpatient areas and treatment rooms.
Tania Bartlett received treatment for breast cancer at the hospital 9 years ago.
"The facilities that were here weren't as great as I felt I needed at the time.
"For example, when I was diagnosed I sat in a waiting room at an eye clinic - trying to be brave whilst I was having my diagnosis.
"I remember seeing my breast care nurse and seeing her face and thinking - I'm going to fall apart right now.
"The only place that we had at that time was a cupboard. Whilst the support was fantastic the facilities were stressful."
Tania was part of the network of volunteers who raised millions for the new unit.
“I will always be incredibly grateful for the team at Yeovil Hospital who guided and supported me on my breast cancer journey.
“As a 40 year old single mum with two small children, I genuinely would not be here today without them.
“The unit will make such an incredible difference and I wanted to help as a way of saying thanks, knowing this would make a diagnosis like breast cancer perhaps just a little bit easier; a safe, calm environment and surroundings and also a much better workspace for the wonderful team.”
Caroline Osborne, is one of the consultant breast surgeons at Yeovil Hospital.
“This is absolutely amazing news and I’m over the moon that it’s finally opening,” she said, “it has been such a long time in the making, from when we first came up with the idea 10 years ago, and the incredible fundraising campaign that followed, to seeing the unit getting built before our very eyes.
“I know that this is going to be fantastic for our excellent breast care team, we can already see the benefits it’ll have for our patients, and it’s something that will last for generations to come too.
“Within the Maple Unit itself we have state-of-the-art equipment, including a brand new mammogram machine, which has additional features to our previous models.
“The real beauty of our new unit is that it’s co-located with our clinical, nursing, radiology, and admin teams, something that’s never been possible before. This makes it so much easier for us to communicate with each other, which will undoubtedly improve the experience of our patients."
Karina Parsons has also been under the care of Yeovil's breast care team.
“Six years ago I had a routine mammogram in Morrisons car park in Yeovil, and I was recalled to Taunton for a follow up mammogram and biopsy, despite having no outward signs or discomfort,” she said.
“A week later I went to Taunton for the results and was informed I had breast cancer. I then had to tell my husband in a general busy waiting area.
“My head was all over the place as our daughter was expecting her baby at any time, so I experienced first-hand the need for a dedicated local breast unit. It was because of this that I decided to join the fundraising team, as it feels like I’m giving something back.”