They gotta be one of the most deeply unpleasant places to be on your own.

My nan went in to hospital as her body was acting up, I was asked (told) to accompany her, make sure she had someone to talk to, not that i did that great a job. 11 minutes after we get there she goes into the clinic and i sit and wait until someone tells me i can see her.

And wait. And wait.

One of those nurses said they'd tell me when i could see her. I sat there for at least an hour having a mini breakdown, wondering why the hell no-one had come to tell me i could see her, then fretting about whether my nan was ok and then shouting at myself that she was fine. After an hour of putting myself through that i ask the receptionist if i can go see her. Turns out i can.

Also turns out she'd been in a bed for a while, she'd asked the staff at least 5 times to tell me i could come see her. Thankfully she's doing ok now, her pancreatitis has come back and she looked like she was in some pain. I have a really pooor bedside manner, i just can't keep a smiling cheery attitude when someone i care about is in that kind of condition.

Thankfully i got through to one of my aunts and she arrived with a brilliant opener "You been on the booze again? What are we gonna do with you!" I don't know how my nan felt, but it shattered that uncomfortable air I'd let develop.

In short, I've got a shitty bedside manner and don't ever want to be alone in a Hospital waiting room ever again. The mind can freak out something bad.