An unusual hellebore and a snapshot of the NHS

I took a friend up to Accident and Emergency at Southmead hospital quite early this morning. She had been told by her GP to go in to get an MRI scan on her lower back, as she had some worrying symptoms as well as pain. Normally I would go by bus up to Southmead, but this time, having dropped her at the door of A and E, I played the fun game called find a parking space.  There seems to be about 8 car parks, and I went to 5 before finding a spot. So I had a long walk back to sit and wait with S. The plus side is that some of the grounds - the parts that aren’t a building site - are quite attractive, with some nice trees and shrubs.  I’ve actually never seen a hellebore like this before, I think it’s lovely. We sat and chatted for 90 minutes before she was called, and I had to head off.  Some sad and shocking things observed - a young man who had fallen off scaffolding and was screaming in pain.  His workmates had brought him in - I guess they thought it would be quicker and that’s probably true.  But he would have got pain relief in an ambulance.  Several other sad and troubled souls.  One young man was there for treatment, but had two police officers glued to his side.  No idea if they were protecting him, or about to arrest him once he’d been treated.  My 90 minute visit left me quite shocked - the difficulties some people have in their lives, and the devastating impact of a split second of inattention. Altogether a morning of learning for me; I think it must be a hard place to work. S got her MRI scan, and left the hospital at 5.30, seven hours after she arrived. She had been treated with kindness and respect.