University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has launched a breast reconstruction video which helps women make informed decisions about their surgery.

Featuring a group of women’s personal experiences of the reconstruction process, the DVD was funded by Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) Charity and produced by the hospital’s Breast Reconstruction Team, with support from the Birmingham Women’s Hospital.

The idea for the DVD, which was filmed by the Trust's medical videographer Simon Edwards, was conceived following feedback from patients about the previous video.

Consultant Plastic Surgeon Miss Ruth Waters explained: “Our original video was informative but it didn’t offer the personal insights that are so important in helping people to make the right decision for them. Seeing these wonderful real women, who are a range of ages, shapes and sizes, talk about their first hand experiences and openly discuss the pros and cons of each procedure is key to its success.”

Anne Keogh is a specialist nurse practitioner in plastic surgery and developed the role of nurse specialists in breast reconstruction. She and her colleague Charlotte Perks, a clinical nurse specialist in breast reconstruction, play an important role in keeping patients informed throughout their journey.

Anne added: “The DVD is invaluable to our patients who have such a lot to think about when they come to see us for their first reconstruction consultation. The options are bewildering, it’s hard to remember what’s been said about each operation and it’s a big decision to make. This DVD enables our patients to filter the relevant information in their own time and then come back to us with any questions.

“It’s really fantastic to be able to see all our hard work come together. We are extremely grateful to all the wonderful ladies who took part in this brilliant DVD and would like to give thanks in particular to Linda Bushell, who very kindly provided the venues for filming and food for our meetings. We would also like to extend our thanks to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity for funding the DVD and to Anne Mellor who, while serving as the Mayor of Warwick, raised £2,000 towards the production of it.”

Hannah Fitzpatrick is the youngest woman in Britain to have had a double mastectomy, at just 19 years old, having been passed the BRCA2 gene (which meant there was an 85% chance of getting breast cancer at some point in her lifetime) from her father Michael.

Hannah, who had an LD flap reconstruction, which involves moving the latissimus dorsi muscle and some overlying fat and skin from the back to create a new breast, was proud to be able to help other women by making the DVD.

Now 22, Hannah explained: “Having seen my aunty Christine become terminally ill with cancer and my two cousins battle with it at just 21 and 27, it was an easier decision for me to make than it would be for some people. Plus I had all of my family around me to guide and help me, knowing how I felt as they’d been through it themselves.

"It would have been really great to have had the benefit of this DVD when we were looking at our reconstruction options, as the explanations around each operation are brilliant. The illustrations are also very clear, enabling you to see at a glance what each operation involves. This is particularly useful as there is a lot of information to take in.”

If you would like find out more about QEHB Charity and how you can support the production of DVDs like this one, please contact 0121 627 5753 or visit the charity's website.

QEHB, in conjunction with QEHB Charity, is pleased to offer other NHS trusts and health organisations the benefit of using this unique video to assist in the care of their patients for a fraction of the cost of producing the DVD. 

For details of how to watch a preview of the DVD, or to order copies for your organisation, please see the the links below.