Doctor on her Doorstep by Annie Claydon

Author:Annie Claydon [Claydon, Annie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460376522
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

THE last six days had seemed like six months. Jenna had been unable to avoid bumping into Adam and they had both been polite, restrained. And she’d gone over every word that had passed between them, analysed each look, in an agony of self-reproach. Her anger had drained away, and with it some of the shadows from the past. But it was too late. Living for today was a hollow aspiration when Adam was now a part of yesterday.

She had hesitated before paging Adam, but only for a moment. This was work, and her reluctance to see him was of secondary importance. When he strode through the doors to the A and E department, he brought reinforcements in the shape of four white-coated youngsters, who were obviously students. He gave Brenda a cheery wave and made straight for Jenna, his face suddenly solemn.

‘What can I do for you?’

‘I’ve a patient who came in with a minor cut, incurred in a fall. I’ve cleaned and glued it.’ The students were hanging on her every word and one seemed to be taking notes.

‘With you so far.’ Adam spoke for the whole group. His tone was professional, verging on the friendly, but that was about all. His eyes were just as blank as they’d been all week.

‘Then I got the “Oh, and by the way…”.’ Jenna was beginning to feel uncomfortable under the four earnest stares. ‘Sometimes people present with very minor things. When you’ve dealt with that they tell you what they’ve really come for.’

One of the students nodded condescendingly. ‘Doorknob syndrome.’

Jenna focussed on the student’s name badge. ‘Gaining a patient’s trust is half the battle, Mark. It’s not easy to talk about some issues.’

Adam nodded, addressing the students. ‘People walk out of those doors every day, having decided that they can’t talk about what’s really worrying them. If we let them do that, then the next time we see them it’s often a real emergency.’ He turned back to Jenna. ‘So what’s the problem?’

She proffered her notes to Adam. ‘He showed me an area on his arm where his skin has lost its pigmentation. I think he may have Hansen’s disease. He told me he comes from Brazil and he’s over here studying. He’s only been here a couple of months and he has no family in this country.’

‘That’s leprosy, isn’t it?’ There was a little rustle of unease and Mark spoke up again.

Adam ignored him. ‘Can anyone tell me about Hansen’s? Yes, Geeta.’

One of the other students began to reel off a list of the indications of Hansen’s disease and Adam nodded her through them. ‘It’s one of the least communicable infectious diseases there is. Transmission is via respiratory droplets, and casual contact doesn’t lead to infection. You have to be resident in an endemic area for several years before the risk of infection becomes appreciable.’ Geeta stopped, gulping in a breath, and then continued. ‘In Brazil it’s referred to as Hansen’s disease, because of the stigma surrounding the name leprosy…’

‘Very nicely put.

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