We want to prepare you as much as possible before surgery.

Before surgery

Prior to surgery you will be taught how to perform strengthening abdominal exercises. The aim of these exercises is to strengthen the blood vessels which supply the abdominal muscles. These vessels are used during your surgery and there is thought that by strengthening them you have improved outcomes and a quicker recovery.

The class will also allow the team to advise you of your future journey, teach you breathing exercises to perform after your operation and how to get out of bed.

After surgery

The post-operative class is available for ladies at least 8 weeks after their operation. This gives time for the abdomen to sufficiently heal before commencing abdominal exercises.

Not all women feel a weakness in their abdomen long term but with any surgery the abdominal muscles can become weak. This class aims to teach you a progressive exercise programme for your abdominal muscles as well as check your progress with regards to shoulder movements.

The ward Physiotherapist will have taught you shoulder exercises prior to being discharged home.

These classes are made possible by Keeping Abreast.

Bra-fitting Service
We offer a bra-fitting service to pre and post-mastectomy surgery and for those undergoing breat reconstruction. Women are measured by Jackie Pool, an experienced breast care fitting specialist who is a volunteer for Keeping Abreast. The fittings take around 45 minutes to an hour in the Apple Room as the Macmillan Wellbeing Centre. Appointments for the service are limited and are held teice a month on a Friday at 12 noon. To book an appointment telephone Jackie on 07919 280144 or email jackie@nicolajane.com

Keeping Abreast, South West
Keeping Abreast provide support information giving meetings which are run by volunteer women who have undergone breast reconstruction at southmead hospital. The group is base at Bristol and Gloucester which are relaxed and open for women and their Family & friends to come along. There is the opportunity to meet and talk with other women who are considering, undergoing or post reconstruction. The group provides practical help and advice for those considering breast reconstruction, including the opportunity to share the experiences of others. For women who feel uncomfortable in a group situation Keeping Abreast volunteers can provide a one to one support. 
For more information visit www.keepingabreast.org.uk

Breast Cancer Care
A Free and confidential service, run by specially trained nurses.
Website: www.breastcancercare.org.uk
Helpline telephone: 0808 8006000
Text phone: 0808 800 6001

Macmillan Cancer Support
Provides practical, medical, emotional and financial support
Website: www.macmillan.org.uk
Freephone: 0808 800 0000
Text phone: 0808 808 0121

Macmillan - Benefits and other financial support
Website: www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/organising/benefits-and-financial-support/benefits-and-your-rights

British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS)
Website: www.bapras.org.uk

Maggies Centre
Maggie’s Cheltenham provide a free unique programme of information, practical and emotional support to people with cancer and their love ones.

Someone Like Me
Someone Like Me can put you in touch with someone else who’s had or been affected by primary breast cancer – with a network of around 200 trained volunteers, they’ll find someone who has more in common with you and understands your particular concerns.
Website: www.breastcancercare.org.uk/information-support/support-you/someone-talk/someone-me
 

We want to ensure that you are as fit as possible for surgery before being admitted on your operation day and that you are also well informed and know what to expect.

We will give you information about coming into hospital and allow you and your family time to ask any questions you have about your surgery.

You should allow up to two hours for your visit, although the time you will spend with us will depend on your medical history and how many tests are needed.

You will be given a questionnaire to complete about contact details for yourself and your relatives. You will then have your

• blood pressure checked
• pulse checked
• height checked
• weight checked
• your nostrils and groins swabbed for MRSA.

You may have an ECG (Electro-Cardiograph) which takes a trace of your heart as well as bloods taken.

The nurse will assess you by going through the questionnaire with you and asking further questions. This assessment also includes checking your medication and advising you about any tablets you need to stop before your surgery.

Please make sure that you bring an up to date prescription or your medications with you.

The assessment helps us to understand your health situation and decide if further tests are needed to make sure you are fit for your surgery. You will also be given some information leaflets – please do read them carefully when you get home.

We will let you know what you need to bring into hospital, what to expect whilst you are an inpatient; how the surgery is performed and post-operative care that you will receive.

You will also be given instruction on what you can and cannot do once you get home so that you can arrange support for you and your family whilst you recover. Following major breast reconstruction surgery you will have to restrict all normal activities for up to six weeks after your surgery. You may need to ask for help from family and friends.

As a breast reconstruction patient we wil discuss the Enhanced Recovery Programme (ERP) which involves you drinking specific drinks before and after surgery.

The Medical Tattooing Clinic is run by the Breast Reconstruction Nursing Team who are qualified in 2D and 3D tattooing following nipple and areola reconstruction using semi-permanent pigments.

The 3D tattooing creates an appearance of an areola and nipple for patients who do not wish to have a reconstruction of the nipple.

The whole process of tattooing takes about an hour and we use a local anaesthetic cream on the area first. You will require a minimum of up to 3 treatments, which are booked 6 weeks apart to allow the pigment to settle into your skin.

As we use semi-permanent pigments the pigment will fade over time and you and you may require a top up at a later day.

Please be aware that the tattooing needles contain nickel and the pigments are oxides based. If you think that you may be allergic to these produces we can offer you a patch test which need to be undertaken 24 hours before.

The Plastic Breast Reconstruction Nurse Led Clinic is run on a Monday 8am to 5 pm, and on Wednesday and Friday 8am to 12 noon at Gate 24, Level 1, Brunel building, Souhtmead Hospital. 

This clinic is specifically for patients who have had surgery in the previous week to 10 days.

We will review your wound and change the dressings please do ask any questions, if you need to.

We also offer a phone consultations for patients to answer any concerns before and after surgery. If you have any issues please do call the Nurses.

Patients attend the Breast Reconstruction Follow Up Clinic, to be reviewed by the plastic surgery team following surgery, up to three months after surgery. 

This clinic provides you with the opportunity to discuss your surgical results or further treatment plan.

It is often quite a busy clinic and the wait can sometimes be up to 3 hours therefore please feel free to have someone accompany you.

Mr Sherif Wilson who is the lead consultant for plastic breast reconstruction also runs a monthly follow-up clinic at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital (www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk). If you are in this catchment area you can contact Wendy Rodmen, Mr Wilson’s secretary, to book this appointment.

The Breast Reconstruction new patient clinic is a consultant (doctor) led clinic with a breast reconstruction nurse present.

This clinic is for women and men who have been referred by their GP, other consultants, breast care nursing or other healthcare provider.

The clinic includes patients who:

• have had or have breast cancer.
• have asymmetry concerns follow breast cancer treatment
• young men or women with congenital issues.

Please understand that funding may be required for consultation and treatment so please discuss this with your GP or other healthcare professional in the first instance.

You will need to attend a minimum of two face to face consultations before a treatment plan can be agreed with you. 

Bristol Health Partners Dementia HIT group hosted (and recorded) a free public lecture on the 9th June. The lecture is titled 'Improving diagnosis and treatment of dementia: Can novel brain imaging help?' and was given by Professor Roy Jones; the Director of the Research Institute for the Care of Older People (RICE) in Bath, and Honorary Professor at the University of Bristol.

You can view the lecture at the following link http://www.rice.org.uk/public+lectures

The Postgraduate Medical Education department organise the induction of doctors joining the Trust and oversee the delivery of mandatory and statutory training for doctors.

The doctor’s induction is run as a half day monthly face-to-face programme supplemented by a regional e-induction package.  This contains all of the mandatory and statutory training at Level 2 competency which is the required level for doctors in training.

Induction is held on the 1st Wednesday of the month in the Learning & Research Centre.

The Postgraduate Medical Education department provide training and support to educational and clinical supervisors responsible for supervising junior doctors in the clinical areas.

This includes running core competency training that meets the GMC standards for educational and clinical supervision. 

Supervisors are also supported by nominated educational leads within the specialty who will be their first point of contact for medical education matters. The Education Lead will be responsible to the Director of Medical Education and Clinical Director for maintaining the standards and quality of education in their areas.