“It gave me part of my life back”: How CHEC Blackpool rebuilt Chantelle’s confidence and trust in healthcare Post Date : September 10, 2026 Patient Stories 7 minutes read Agoraphobia is an anxiety condition that is estimated to affect over a million people in the UK alone. Living with the condition can be incredibly challenging and have a significant impact on daily life, making it difficult for people to leave their homes or visit unfamiliar places because they feel unsafe or worry help won’t be available if they need it. So, what happens when someone who lives with this condition needs treatment or surgery? This was the case for one of our patients, Chantelle Aitchison, who needed surgery to remove a cyst on her eye. But the team at CHEC Blackpool didn’t just help Chantelle. They rebuilt her confidence and restored her trust in healthcare. Living with agoraphobia and the barrier of healthcare Chantelle from Lancashire had lived with agoraphobia for three years before she took that first step to have surgery. During that time, whenever she was unwell, she avoided seeing the doctor as much as she could – instead choosing to call up her local GP to see if a house visit was possible – all the while feeling her condition wasn’t being taken seriously. “Agoraphobia completely took over my life,” she says. “Before coming to CHEC, I hadn’t set foot inside a GP clinic for three years.” But when Chantelle developed a cyst on her eye, getting treatment soon became necessary and unavoidable. And what started off as a stye soon began to grow into a lump, causing her eyelid to droop. Chantelle also started to worry that this would affect her eyesight. Despite this, Chantelle still didn’t receive any help from her GP, causing her to lose faith in UK healthcare altogether – a sector she had once worked in as an HCA (Healthcare Assistant) for many years. “I completely lost faith in the healthcare system,” she says. “My former GP basically told me, when you get over your agoraphobia, come back to us and we’ll help. Healthcare meant a lot to me, so losing that sense of care, compassion and respect was really hard.” A reassured referral Following a house move and a fresh start, Chantelle decided to change GPs as the cyst continued to grow. This gave her the push to step foot in a GP surgery for the first time in three years, and it was at this point that she was referred to CHEC Blackpool. Feeling it was important to make the CHEC team aware of her agoraphobia and nervous about how they’d respond, based on her previous experiences, she contacted CHEC Blackpool before her appointment to inform them about her condition. But this time, thankfully, things were different for Chantelle. “The man I spoke to was incredibly reassuring,” she says. “From that initial call, I never picked up a negative vibe from any member of staff.” CHEC Blackpool Hospital An unforgettable first impression On the day of her appointment, Chantelle arrived with her mum feeling very anxious and distressed. But the Blackpool CHEC team acted quickly and wasted no time in doing what they could to support her, moving her into a private room, offering water and checking on her. “Beforehand, I was terrified because they didn’t know the full severity of my panic attacks. But from the moment I walked in, they understood the situation immediately. Being judged by people is a major trigger for my anxiety, but at CHEC, I felt I could express how I was feeling without having to hide it,” she adds. Feeling safe and reassured Although Chantelle was extremely nervous about undergoing surgery, the care she received throughout the procedure helped her feel supported every step of the way, with the team clearly communicating the process to her, while making sure she was comfortable. This included allowing Chantelle to keep her coping aids with her, such as headphones to listen to music, wear her neck fan, and hold her sensory toy. One of the team, Katie, also took the time to hold her hand. “The communication was fantastic,” Chantelle says. “They explained everything step by step and took their time. The team stopped whenever I needed a break and reassured me every few seconds. They checked on me constantly to make sure I was feeling safe and Katie held my hand throughout the entire procedure. Good communication is vital for keeping me calm, and they executed it brilliantly.” A changed life and a new outlook The surgery was a huge success and Chantelle says removing the cyst has made ‘a massive difference’ to her life, allowing her to feel comfortable and less self-conscious. But it wasn’t just about the surgery for her. She says her experience at CHEC has made her feel more confident, helped to reduce her anxiety, and even rebuilt the trust she’d previously lost in the healthcare system. “For someone who hadn’t stepped into a healthcare setting for three years because of agoraphobia, that meant far more than just having surgery. It gave me a part of my life back.” Chantelle Aitchison Chantelle says: “Since having the surgery, my anxiety levels have dropped and my self-esteem has had a huge boost. But it wasn’t just about having the surgery. CHEC restored something I had lost due to my previous experiences – they restored my faith in healthcare. My previous GP had failed to make me feel listened to, safe, or heard. Walking into CHEC was completely different – the staff listened, kept me calm, and didn’t judge me for how I reacted.” Doing more than saying thank you The experience even gave Chantelle the confidence to revisit CHEC Blackpool to give the team some gifts to say thank you. “I will never forget how those staff members made me feel, gave me my confidence back, and removed all my self-doubt,” she says. “When I got home [after the surgery] and looked in the mirror, I thought, how on earth did I just manage to do that? I couldn’t have done it without them. I felt I needed to go the extra mile, beyond sending a thank you card. I wanted the team to realise that this wasn’t just another routine surgery procedure for them. It fundamentally changed how I view healthcare.” Recommending CHEC to others After her life-changing experience, Chantelle says she’d recommend CHEC as a place to go for surgery, especially for those people with a condition like agoraphobia. “If anyone is hesitant about receiving treatment at CHEC, I would reassure them completely,” she says. “Worry is natural, but the care here is exceptional. Having worked in healthcare and been a patient in both the NHS and private sectors, I can say it comes down to the people. Every staff member I met, right up to management, was phenomenal. Their natural compassion, patience, and care made all the difference. Anyone with health anxiety or phobias would be making the best decision by choosing CHEC. “I walked into CHEC thinking I was just having a cyst removed. I walked out with so much more than that. I left with more confidence in myself, more trust in healthcare, and the belief that I could access healthcare again in the future. I felt safe, listened to, understood and never once judged. For someone who hadn’t stepped into a healthcare setting for three years because of agoraphobia, that meant far more than just having surgery. It gave me a part of my life back.” Considering Treatment at CHEC? At CHEC, we are dedicated to delivering high-quality, efficient, and compassionate eye care on behalf of the NHS. Just like Chantelle, you can expect swift appointments, clear guidance, and quality care every step of the way. To find out more about CHEC Blackpool or a hospital that’s close to you, please visit our Locations page below. Or to learn more about our eye treatment services, visit our Eye Treatments page. Visit our Locations page