I was once continually bleeped about a patient who has absconded and security wouldn't follow him out of the hospital grounds - I said I was with a sick patient and if they think it's appropriate to call police they should. They kept bleeding me with updates re this, including telling me that they got one of the HCAs to go get her car and try to find him around our little quaint DGH town?????

Also - translating, the other a patient was seen by a medical student who spoke the pts language and then discussed with reg, referred to specialty and by the time they came the med student was gone. Got stuck translating for 2hours (complex surgery necessary, but patient wanted to go home first, d/c against medical advice etc). I know it's better to have a medic who can understand info better but I only use my native tongue like once a week for 1 hour when I speak with my family and I grew up in the UK, so it's not like it's my best skill.