On Friday afternoon I was called to the family home as my brother had an accident with a wet floor and a mop. As I arrived he was in a lot of pain and he believed he fractured his collarbone by slipping on the wet kitchen floor.

I had a good look and with my limited medical knowledge I agreed with his self diagnosis which meant only one course of action: Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Oh how I hate that place, I hate it so much that for sometime now I have considered carrying around a card which states ‘ In event of emergency please do not take me to Glasgow Royal Infirmary ‘

When we arrived to the Casualty department, it was as filthy as it was when I took my mother there on Xmas Day. You are greeted by graffiti outside the main entrance, inside the seats in the waiting room are shaky or broken, the parts of the walls are caked with dirt, and some of the vending machines are broken.

Welcome to the NHS in Glasgow.

People will say it is because of the type of people who frequent the department and I appreciate that. Why don’t Strathclyde Police have a small office in the Casualty department, where there are a pair of on site Constables? Maybe that will prevent the waiting room looking less comforting for worried friends and relatives of the sick and injured.

A hospital department should not look like this regardless of who goes into it for immediate treatment.

Finally, my brother was treated fairly quickly. Fractured collarbone.