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An alarm is ringing

A waiting room crowded some standing some pacing muttering one huge man asleep on the floor all chronic cases except a baby crying it is nearly 11 and I have only seen two booked patients both depressed and two walk ins both admitted and nothing’s in its proper place the receptionist phones to say Vera Smith has been waiting an hour and wants to know how much longer I think that wasted another minute there is a message to talk to the nurse before calling the next patient her door is shut and behind it someone is sobbing I need a cup of tea but dare not stop or I’ll get further behind an alarm is ringing I’ve forgotten where we assemble an alarm is ringing

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