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      To Pam and Dudley, with love and thanks

      for all your help and support.

      CHAPTER ONE

       4 p.m. 11 December

      ‘THAT was ED on the phone. Bet you can’t guess what they wanted?’

      Sister Georgina Lee groaned as she looked up from the computer. ‘Don’t tell me—they want us to find yet another bed for yet another patient.’

      ‘Got it in one!’ Rosie James, their young student nurse, grinned. ‘Give yourself a pat on the back.’

      ‘I would do if I had the time to spare.’ Gina’s expression was wry as she glanced at the computer screen. ‘It’s the third time I’ve tried to fill in this order form. At this rate, we’re going to run out of basic supplies.’

      ‘It has been busy,’ Rosie agreed. ‘I had no idea that life on the acute assessment unit would be so hectic. I thought it would be a doddle, to be honest. Patients would be sent here for a couple of hours and then they’d either be moved to a ward or sent home.’

      ‘That’s what most folk believe if they haven’t worked here.’ Gina laughed, her slate-grey eyes filled with amusement. ‘It’s what I thought happened here too when I took this job. I soon discovered how wrong I was!’

      ‘It must have been a shock,’ Rosie suggested.

      Gina shrugged. ‘A bit, but I must admit that I enjoy the variety. If you work on a ward like Women’s Surgical, for instance, then you know that your patients will be either preparing for an operation or recovering from one. In here, you never know what you’re going to have to deal with. It certainly keeps you on your toes.’

      ‘I suppose so, although I’m not sure I’d be able to cope with the pressure, long term,’ Rosie admitted.

      ‘It’s not for everyone,’ Gina said firmly, not wanting the younger woman to feel discouraged. She shot another glance at the screen and stood up. ‘We’d better go and see if we can sort out a bed. Mr Walker in the end bay is supposed to be moving to Cardiology, so maybe we can sweet-talk them into taking him sooner than planned.’

      Gina led the way, pausing en route to let the rest of the staff know that another admission was on the way. She smiled when her friend, Julie Grey, groaned. ‘I know how you feel, Jules. We’re bursting at the seams as it is. At this rate we’ll soon be having to use the staffroom!’

      ‘Either that or leave patients on trolleys in the corridor as used to happen in the past,’ Julie said ruefully.

      ‘Thank heavens those days are gone,’ Gina retorted. ‘The thought of any patient being abandoned like that makes my blood run cold.’

      ‘We all hated it,’ Julie assured her. ‘This new unit might get crowded but it’s a huge improvement on how things used to be.’

      Gina left the staff to get on with their work and went to have a word with Frank Walker. He had been rushed in by ambulance at lunchtime complaining of chest pains. Subsequent tests had shown blockages to three of the main coronary arteries and the decision had been made to perform a bypass. Now Gina smiled as she stopped beside his bed.

      ‘So how are you feeling now, Mr Walker?’

      ‘So-so. The pain has eased off thanks to the medication, so that’s a blessing.’ He sighed. ‘I suppose I’ve only got myself to blame. My wife’s been nagging me for years to stop smoking and eat sensibly but I took no notice. I thought she was making a fuss about nothing.’

      ‘It’s hard to accept advice sometimes,’ Gina said tactfully. ‘Still, once you’ve had the bypass done, you’ll feel a lot better.’

      ‘Do you think so?’ Frank looked worried. ‘Oh, I know that young chap who came to see me was very dismissive, but you can’t help worrying, can you? I mean, they have to stop your heart and everything.’

      ‘Yes, they do, but they attach you to a special machine which takes over the jobs your heart and lungs would normally do,’ Gina explained, wishing, not for the first time, that Miles Humphreys had a better bedside manner. An operation such as this might be routine to him but it certainly wasn’t routine for the patient.

      ‘So you think it’s quite safe, do you, Sister?’ Frank said anxiously. ‘And that I should have it done?’

      ‘I do. Although it’s a major operation, it’s performed frequently. And I know for a fact that the cardio team here at St Saviour’s are highly skilled.’ She patted Frank’s hand. ‘You’ll be fine, I promise you.’

      ‘Thank you.’ Frank smiled at her. ‘I feel much happier now. Shame that young doctor didn’t take the time to reassure me like you’ve just done. You should

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