Undercover At City Hospital. Carol Marinelli

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СКАЧАТЬ in and sign for it.’

      ‘But she’s got her driving test,’ Hannah protested.

      ‘And I’ve got a department to run,’ Jayne clipped back. ‘Now, I’m sorry to do this, Hannah, I know you’ve got the kids to get to school, but before you go off duty I need you to fill out an incident report.’

      ‘What?” Hannah’s voice was incredulous. ‘It’s a non-event, Jayne. You’re completely overreacting. I really can’t stay. I need to have a couple of hours’ sleep before I bring Ken back here for his outpatients appointment at eleven…’

      ‘Sorry to interrupt, but could I have a hand in here, ladies?’ A rather snobbish, very deep, very laid-back drawl halted the bickering, and Bella’s eyes widened as she turned around. The reading on the heart monitor that had been blipping along slowly but regularly had reverted to the wiggly line of VF and Heath was laying Charles Adams down before he even passed out, before his wife had even registered that there was something really wrong. As Trish dashed over and led her away, Heath was applying fresh pads to the patient’s chest as Jayne quickly pressed a button to charge up the defibrillator. The machine whirring into action was a sound Bella hadn’t heard for ages, but as instantly memorable as a dentist’s drill.

      Heath was supremely calm, an utter contrast to Bella who could feel her heart fluttering almost as much as the patient’s—watching in awe as Heath pulled the paddles out of their trays.

      ‘Everybody back.’

      Another memorable noise, listening as 200 joules were delivered to the patient, watching as his body spasmed, then turning to the monitor.

      ‘Still VF. Charge to 360 and could someone put out a code?’

      On the wards a code would have been called immediately, but events like this were more commonplace in emergency and they had the equipment and expertise to deal with it. Once Charles’s heart had failed to respond, however, it was time to call for the team.

      Heath’s hands were on his patient’s chest now, commencing cardiac massage as he called for drugs that would hopefully work on the irritable heart before they shocked him again.

      ‘Bag him, please, Bella.’ Jayne’s order was sharp and to the point.

      Hell, she hadn’t even been shown around the department, but Bella knew that with the RN badge dangling from the cord around her neck she was responsible now, not an undercover cop but an emergency nurse, and a life was on the line.

      An ambu-bag was already connected to the oxygen, lying on the head of the trolley beside the patient thanks to his previous episode. Bella checked the man’s airway to make sure it was clear before extending the neck and placing the mask firmly over his face, delivering oxygen as the machine charged and Heath pumped on.

      ‘OK. Everyone back,’ Heath ordered, then addressed his patient. ‘Come on, Charles. I’ve just finally managed to arrange a bed up on CCU for you. Don’t let’s waste it.’

      As soon as Jayne delivered the shock, Bella took her position again, holding the bag tightly over Charles’s airway, ready to commence immediately. Suddenly she felt resistance, the uplifting sound of the monitor bleeping, the unmistakable feel of the quiet tension that had been present seeping out of the room as Charles started thrashing his head around. Bella replaced the ambu-bag with an oxygen mask, letting out the breath she had been holding before finally looking up.

      ‘It’s OK, Charles.’ Heath’s voice was still calm, and he lowered his head and spoke into his patient’s ear. ‘You’re back with us now. You just had another small turn.’

      Which was one way of describing it, Bella thought, blowing skywards the hair that had escaped as she let out another deep breath.

      ‘Fun’s over, guys!’ Heath grinned as the crash team started skidding into the room. ‘This is Charles Adams, the patient I’ve been babysitting for you. He’s just had his third episode of VF in the last three hours and this time he had to be shocked twice before he reverted. Can we get him out of here now please and onto CCU?’

      ‘Good job, everyone.’ Heath nodded to the staff, then addressed Bella. ‘I assume from the way you reacted, you’ve done emergency before.’

      ‘Not for a long while,’ Bella admitted.

      ‘Well, you did great.’ He held out a hand. ‘I’m Heath Jameson, the very new acting consultant.’

      ‘Bella Gray.’ Bella smiled. ‘And I’m the very new nurse.’

      ‘Welcome aboard.’ Very green eyes smiled momentarily at her, but his face grew more serious as he looked away, nodding to the group to step outside Resus and addressing Hannah and Jayne.

      ‘If you have to argue, could you do it well away from Resus next time?’

      ‘I’m sorry, Heath.’ Jayne blushed darkly. ‘But you know the problems we’ve been having with drugs.’

      ‘So does half the department now,’ Heath retorted sharply. ‘Is Bethany on duty tonight?’

      Hannah nodded.

      ‘Well, she can sign for the drug then and do an incident report when she comes in. I don’t want my nurses half-asleep on the job, which is what she will be tonight if we drag her back here now to fill in a blessed incident report just to appease the powers that be. That’s when real mistakes start to happen.’ He turned to Hannah. ‘If you can come in fifteen minutes early tonight, you can fill yours out then.’

      Hannah gave a grateful nod but Jayne was far from appeased.

      ‘Heath, this is a nursing-related issue and given that I’m the most senior nurse in the department…’

      ‘This is a staff-related issue,’ Heath corrected. ‘And I’m the consultant. Sorry,’ he added before Jayne could. ‘Acting consultant.’

      ‘So you’re pulling rank now, Heath? According to the records there are drugs missing…’

      ‘There’s a single vial of morphine that hasn’t been signed for,’ Heath broke in, instantly diluting Jayne’s accusation. ‘And if anyone has a problem with the incident reports being filled in tonight instead of this morning, they can discuss it with me. I am not having a simple mistake turning into a drama, and if it means pulling rank then I’m up for it. I am not going to walk around panicking about things and feeling guilty when I’m not, and neither do I expect the rest of the staff to. Now, can I have a nurse to come in to speak to Charles’s wife with me?’

      And turning on his heel he stalked off, leaving everyone, especially Bella, standing blushing and open-mouthed.

      Jayne because she’d been put down.

      Hannah because she’d been backed up.

      And for the rest of the nurses standing there, including Bella, it was entirely due to the fact that they were female.

       CHAPTER THREE

      CELIA was inconsolable.

      Sobbing СКАЧАТЬ