"Lack of professionalism among staff."

Anything else?

I had a half-past eight appointment to see the foot surgeon and arrived at about ten past. There were three female members of staff in the office behind the reception desk all talking at the tops of their voices. They discussed: how the 'university of life' was better than going to university; how the relatives of a particular patient regularly smoked near hospital buildings; and how a fellow member of staff did not pull their weight. At half past eight they all declared that they must get on with some work and one (possibly a paramedic) left. Five minutes later the two women in the office again started gossiping loudly. It was as if the hospital were being run a social club for staff, with patients as an awkward add-on. I was finally called in by a nurse at ten to nine. He apologised for the delay but said that he had been working at his desk for some time before he had realised that he should be seeing patients in the morning and doing his administration in the afternoon. I appreciated his honesty but it did not inspire confidence. I have recently been treated at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital as well. The contrast between the professionalism of staff there and the lack of professionalism among staff at the Norwich Community Hospital could not be more marked. I think that this is something that should be addressed.