Hospital staff jobsworths
Out of the goodness of my heart (and had nothing to do with compulsory community service and restitution), I used to volunteer at the local hospital on Saturday mornings issuing visitor badges.

One gentleman was wheeling a cart of flowers out to the car as his wife was going home. Not two feet out the door, a (very nice) crystal vase falls of the cart and shatters into a million pieces. I call custodial to have it cleaned up. We don't need visitors becoming patients.

The custodian shows up, and asks where the glass is. I point it out to her, and she says (quote): "Oh, it's outside, I can't clean it up, you'll have to get maintenance." At which point she leaves and won't even consider cleaning it up.

I call maintenance, no answer. Call switchboard, maintenance isn't there on Saturdays, they are on call. Call is placed to a beeper. After 20 minutes, I get a call from a very sleepy maintenance that it's not their job to clean stuff up, unless it's a broken window or something. This was a vase, so call custodial, at which point he hangs up and doesn't answer his phone again.

Meanwhile, visitors are having to wade through broken glass. I went out and got the larger shards cleaned up, but it occured to me that there is no reason to risk myself when a HOSPITAL should have people on staff for just such occaisions.

This was the last day of a three year hospital volunteer career. Between events like this and a long list of other complaints, I have lost all respect for hospitals and the medical field in general.
( setimret likes his metaphors mixed, not stirred, Mon 16 May 2005, 16:55, Reply)