"A&E department"

Example: I popped into the A&E to book an appointment as I was transferred from another hospital which I attended whilst on holiday. I have the utmost respect for hospital staff however the staff on the A&E reception were not at all professional in the day I visited. As I patiently waited my turn, there was a guy in front if me who clearly had some problems, combined with a language barrier; he was trying to obtain some Viagra. Instead of dealing with his request with dignity, they laughed at him which I found very rude and unprofessional. Compared to other hospitals I have visited, Preston is very dated (not that this is a problem) but all staff I have had the misfortune of having contact with seem to share the same cultural bad attitude and lack of customer care. In my honest opinion the hospital needs knocking down and starting again, hopefully it will be rebuilt with the patient care as a priority and respect that other NHS hospitals priovide without even trying. Maybe at hospitals like Preston, privatisation is the way forward as as patients / customers would have a better experience and the 'tone at the top' would change and cascade down to staff at all levels.