Sue’s support work will be invaluable

BREAKING new ground . . . Sue Bennici Oldham’s first prosthetics technician

WOMEN recovering from breast cancer and other illnesses can now get specialist care from the Royal Oldham Hospital’s first dedicated breast care prosthetics technician.

Sue Bennici will work alongside the breast care specialist nurses, which will give them more time to concentrate on direct patient care, clinics and counselling.

A breast prosthesis is an artificial breast worn under the bra that matches the size, shape, weight and feel of the other breast.

Sue said: “My role will hopefully make a real difference to those patients who require this service.

“I started in October last year and the comments by patients have been invaluable and the feedback has been very positive.”

Jean Page, divisional nurse manager of general and specialist surgery at Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Royal Oldham Hospital, is delighted to have Sue on board.

She said: “This is a new development within the breast care service as prosthetics fitting has historically been a role undertaken by the breast care specialist nurses.

“With the ever increasing numbers of patients accessing the service we felt it was necessary to increase the support of this extremely important aspect of patient care.

“Sue’s appointment has made a huge difference to the breast care specialist nurses and they agree it allows them to devote even more time to patients.

“Sue was originally a healthcare support worker in the out-patient department so she has vital experience in dealing with what can often be a difficult time for patients.

“We needed to make sure the patients attending the prosthetics clinics were as comfortable as possible during their fittings so the decision to adopt a less formal uniform was taken that would make their visits feel less clinical.”