The NHS at work

The problem with this story is that I'm not suprised at all by it- the mother of a six month old baby was kept waiting at a hospital for two hours before the child was seen. As she waited a unicyclist rode up and down, entertaining the patients. Lo and behold, when the sick child was finally seen to the doctor was the unicyclist.

The hospital has issued an apology, though it's the sort of apology that isn't really one at all:

"The child in question was not neglected and his care was not compromised in any way. Of course we are sorry if distress was inadvertently caused to his mother and we have offered her our apologies. But let’s also remember that we should try to make hospital wards less intimidating places for patients, particularly children and not apologise for making a stay in hospital as happy a time as possible. We regularly provide diversions that are not directly related to medical care."

In other words, we're NOT apologising for having a doctor entertain patients instead of treat them. Perhaps it hasn't occurred to the hospital that patients might be happier being treated promptly instead of kept waiting while some doctor plays the fool. After all, if they're that serious about making it a "happy" environment counldn't they find someone more qualified than a doctor to ride a unicycle, freeing up the doctor to, oh I don't know, treat patients?

Welcome to what passes for logical thought and appropriate use of staff in the modern NHS.