"pain during procedure"

I am writing to provide feedback on my recent experiences at the Haematology Clinic in Newtownards.

Each time a particular nurse performs my venesection, I experience significant pain both during the procedure and for up to a week afterwards. On my most recent visit, I believe my vein was blown (i.e., punctured through), as the discomfort was especially severe and long-lasting. This does not happen when other nurses carry out the procedure.

Due to the ongoing pain and discomfort, I consulted my GP, who confirmed that I had indeed suffered a blown vein as a result of the venesection.

During this last appointment, I also overheard the same nurse mention to a colleague that their previous patient had experienced the same problem—presumably as a result of their technique causing another blown vein to a clinic patient. The nurse also seemed aware and conscientious of their own difficulties with venesection, which made them appear panicky during my procedure and did not inspire confidence. This added to my discomfort and concern.

This ongoing pain has made recovery more difficult and affected my daily activities, which has been distressing. It has also impacted my confidence in attending for future treatment.

Furthermore, since the clinic became nurse-led, I have noticed a difference in the management of the clinic. It feels different to when it was a Doctor led clinic. When the clinic was doctor-led, it felt much more supportive and better organised. As a result, the clinic now feels less approachable and less supportive. I have also heard clinic staff make similar comments to patients.

I wanted to bring these points to your attention for your awareness and in case any further support or training might be helpful for the nurse involved.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I appreciate the overall care provided by your team.