‘You don’t,’ I agree, ‘but I think things will turn out a lot better for you if you do. Believe it or not, you’re not the first person this has happened to. I think most of us have fallen foul of a consultant at some point. Is it nice being shouted at? Of course not, but you have to remember they’re under a huge amount of pressure. They earn the big money because they are responsible for everything that goes on in the department during their watch. You amputate the wrong leg, Dr Rogers will be the one in front of the trustees and relatives, having to explain himself.’

‘I wouldn’t amputate a leg,’ he says, and I’m relieved to see he’s smiling again. ‘We’d send them to theatre for that.’

‘You know what I mean. If any one of us cocks up, it’s the consultant’s head on the block. That’s why they’re so obsessive about knowing exactly what’s going on.’

‘I still think it was excessive.’

‘Maybe, but think about this strategically. He’s a highly respected consultant and you’re still the new boy to an extent. Nobody likes being told off, but you were technically in the wrong, weren’t you?’

‘So you’re saying I should just suck it up?’

‘In this case, yes. You know what it’s like down there; we all need to be able to trust each other implicitly. We might have to be inventive sometimes, but when that happens we’re inventive as a team, not as individuals.’

‘If you say there’s no “I” in “team”, I’m leaving.’ His smile broadens.

‘Oh, I’ve got a little book of clichés specifically for occasions like this,’ I assure him.

We sip our tea for a few moments in silence, but I can tell something is still niggling at him.

‘Spit it out,’ I urge.

‘Sorry?’

‘There’s still something bothering you. What is it?’

He sighs. ‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m a qualified doctor. How come he trusts you more than me?’

It takes me a moment to digest the meaning behind his question and, when I do, my hackles rise. ‘What, given that I’m “just” a nurse? Is that what you’re saying?’

He obviously realises his mistake as he hastily tries to backtrack. ‘No, that’s not what I meant at all. It’s just galling because I have a lot to bring to the table, and I feel he’s not listening to me at all. Dr Patel doesn’t, either.’