Stella McCartney bra donation supports RUH's breast cancer patients

A donation of 200 specially-designed bras from the fashion designer Stella McCartney has been made to the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust for women who have undergone breast surgery.

Made from organic cotton, the post-surgery bras are comfortable and supportive and are a particularly good fit for women with prosthetics.

The bra is aimed primarily at women who have undergone a mastectomy as part of their treatment, but is also suitable for anyone who has had surgery for breast cancer.

The bra is made from ultra-soft cotton and cotton lace, with a soft, flexible under-band and front and back fastenings. It includes ultra-soft internal pockets for use with prosthesis, wide, adjustable straps, and an extended size range.

The RUH was one of just a handful of hospitals to be given the bras, which are now being offered to patients by the RUH's team of Breast Care Nurses.

Breast Care Nurse Catherine Brown said: "We've just started to give the bras out to our patients, but the feedback we've had has been very positive – the women have said how comfortable they are to wear, that they are easy to look after, and feel very feminine.

"These bras are a very generous donation and will help to make our patients feel comfortable and more confident as they complete their journey to recovery."

Patient Pam Stoate was one of the first patients to receive one of the bras following a mastectomy in November. She said: "Catherine gave me the bra on the day of my operation and I thought it was a lovely gesture. It was a real boost to know I was being thought about and it made me feel really well looked after.

"The bras have been extremely well designed. The front opening is very thoughtful and practical and the broad straps are comfortable and easily adjustable – ideal when you recovering after an operation and are still sore and in some discomfort.

"This was my second bout of cancer and the RUH has seen me through both. I can't fault the care and support I've received."

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK and will affect around one in 10 women during their life. It can now be treated very effectively and most women who develop breast cancer will be permanently cured following treatment. However, they will need regular breast cancer surveillance with mammography.

Over 6,000 women are referred to the RUH Breast Unit every year, about 400 of these will be diagnosed with cancer. The vast majority of patients are women, but the unit also sees men with breast problems, two or three of whom will have breast cancer.

The RUH Breast Unit has one of the most up-to-date facilities in the South West of England. It provides an integrated range of services for patients with breast problems, including rapid access diagnostic clinics by a team of dedicated specialists. It has state of the art breast imaging equipment and is one of very few trusts in the region with digital mammography, breast tomosynthesis and breast MRI.

ENDS

Notes to Editor

• The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust provides acute treatment and care for a catchment population of around 500,000 people in Bath, and the surrounding towns and villages in North East Somerset and Western Wiltshire. The hospital provides healthcare to the population served by four Clinical Commissioning Groups: Bath & North East Somerset CCG, Wiltshire CCG, Somerset CCG and South Gloucestershire CCG.
• The Trust has 759 beds and a comprehensive range of acute services including medicine and surgery, services for women and children, accident and emergency services, and diagnostic and clinical support services.
• In 2015 The Royal United Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust acquired the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD) NHS Foundation Trust. The RNHRD treats patients from across the country offering services in rheumatology, chronic pain, chronic fatigue syndrome/ME, cancer related fatigue and fatigue linked to other long term conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
• The RUH is changing - we have an exciting programme of redevelopment underway transforming our site and further improving the services we provide. The Trust has opened the purpose-built RNHRD and Brownsword Therapies Centre and is now working towards the new Dyson Cancer Centre. For more details visit: www.ruh.nhs.uk/fit4future

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