St Matthew's Passion - By Sam Archer Page 0,6

she displeased Fin in some way? She’d been in the post eight days, and had completely immersed herself, arriving at the crack of dawn and staying late, and even coming in on Sunday when she wasn’t scheduled to be at work. She had crammed several weeks’ worth of experience into that time, learning an immense amount assisting Fin in theatre and following his patients after surgery. He’d always been courteous towards her, acknowledging her contributions, and hadn’t criticised her or pointed out any obvious mistakes. So why was he undermining her like this?

Perhaps he was just another macho surgeon, part of the smug old boys’ club, who saw her very presence as a threat to his masculinity. Perhaps he genuinely believed she lacked the competence to carry out so routine a task as to evaluate the progress of a patient’s healing, two months after the operation.

Or perhaps, Melissa thought, shamefully, she was reading far too much into the situation. There might be an innocuous explanation. Well, there was only one way to find out.

She’d have to bring the subject up with him.

***

Fin strode briskly down the corridor from theatre towards the wards, Deborah at his side. Deborah Lennox was the sister in charge of the trauma wards, a cool-headed bastion of efficiency who was at the same time a firebrand when it came to getting the best possible care for the patients under her charge. She was updating Fin on the latest developments with his post-traumatic pancreatitis patient when he felt somebody fall into step at his other flank.

He glanced round, and saw it was Melissa.

‘Fin, do you have a moment?’ she asked, slightly out of breath.

He slowed, nodded to Deborah. ‘I’ll catch up on the ward.’ Turning to Melissa he said, ‘What’s up?’

‘Is there somewhere we could talk in private? It’s not urgent, but there might not be a chance after the ward rounds.’

He’d wondered if she might want to talk. Their outpatient clinic had finished six hours earlier and it had been a long afternoon in theatre, where she’d assisted him with a bowel resection. Over the surgical mask her eyes had met his from time to time, even when he wasn’t addressing her. He’d sensed something was on her mind.

‘Yes, of course.’ They reached the door of a small seminar room not currently in use and Fin led the way in. He turned to face her. She looked slightly uneasy and yet defiant at the same time, her posture straight, her chin tilted up a little, her gaze direct. He felt drawn to move closer to her but kept his distance, respecting her personal space. He waited for her to speak.

‘Earlier today, in outpatients.’ She faltered, and he gave an encouraging nod, having no idea what she was leading up to. ‘I felt quite uncomfortable about something.’

‘Oh, really?What was that?’

‘Mrs Reynolds. The carotid injury patient. She said she preferred not to see me and insisted you see her instead.’

‘Yes. That worked out well, because I happened to be just in between patients.’

She spoke more confidently now, building up steam. ‘It’s the principle, Fin. With respect. I was perfectly capable of managing her, and I’d already told her it wasn’t possible for you to see her because you were with another patient.’ She hesitated, flushing deeply. The colour in her cheeks set off the blue of her eyes and he felt a slow warmth spread through his chest and belly. ‘I felt quite undermined, as though you agreed with her that I wasn’t up to the job of caring for her.’

He waited to see if there was more. She was a little breathless, as though she felt she’d gone too far. Fin tried to ignore the rise and fall of her breasts under her coat.

At last he said, ‘Fair enough. I can see how you might have felt, and I’m sorry. But if we’re talking principle, then consider this. The patient’s needs come first. Always, in every circumstance. Now, of course if I genuinely hadn’t been available then Mrs Reynolds would have to have seen you. And –’ he went on as she opened her mouth once more, ‘by that I don’t mean you were the second best option. Far from it. In fact, Mrs Reynolds was very complimentary about your manner when I saw her. But wherever possible, we accede to the patient’s request. I’m not saying we give in to the patient’s every whim and demand, not when we know it wouldn’t be in their interests.