He swabbed the back of her hand and then selected a vein and slid the venflon in with practised ease.

‘OK.’ He straightened and tossed the debris onto the trolley. ‘I want a chest X-ray, an ECG and an ultrasound of that leg.’

Jenny hurried off to make the necessary arrangements and Alex called the medical team.

‘I can’t stay in hospital,’ Helen fretted, reaching down to pick up a toy that the little girl had dropped. ‘I’ve got three children under the age of five, one of them with a banged head.’

Jenny glanced at Jack who was lying on the trolley, playing quietly with a toy car.

‘Is there anyone we can phone?’

Helen sighed and tipped her head back. ‘My husband, I suppose, but he won’t thank me.’

Alex walked back over to her, his phone call finished. ‘Why won’t he thank you?’

‘He’s got a very busy job,’ Helen muttered, concentrating on the children. ‘He hates being called when he’s working.’

Jenny caught Alex’s eye and hid her surprise at his obvious disapproval. Somehow she would have expected him to empathise with a businessman who didn’t have time for his children, but again it seemed that she’d misjudged him.

‘Jenny will call him,’ Alex said smoothly. ‘She’s good at reminding people of their responsibilities.’

Jenny caught the gleam of amusement in his blue eyes and glared at him.

‘I’ll be happy to call him,’ she said, delivering a sweet smile in Alex’s direction. ‘I’m sure he’ll be only too happy to come at once when he knows that you need him.’

Helen didn’t look convinced but at that moment a radiographer hurried into the room, along with two ECG technicians.

Alex gave a brisk nod. ‘Great. Let’s move you up onto a trolley, Helen, next to Jack. Jenny will take the other two for a little walk while we do the X-rays.’

Noticing that little Bella was showing more than a passing interest in the metal drip stand, Jenny nodded her agreement and gently took the baby from Helen.

‘I’m not sure if she’ll go with you,’ Helen fretted, releasing the baby reluctantly. ‘She’s terrible with people she doesn’t know.’

‘She’ll be fine with Jenny. Jenny’s great with babies,’ Alex said immediately, signing the form that the radiographer handed him. ‘Babies love her.’

Jenny blinked at the unexpected praise and lifted the baby gently against her shoulder.

Fortunately the baby did seem to love her. Or at least it didn’t protest at being cuddled by a total stranger.

Assuring Helen that she’d bring the baby back at the first signs of distress, Jenny left Resus and walked down to the paediatric area to find a phone and look for more distractions.

Still holding the baby, she showed Bella a box of toys and watched with satisfaction as she involved herself with a train set.

Then she called Helen’s husband, choosing her words carefully so that he understood the seriousness of the situation.

‘Who’s this?’ Tina strolled up to her as she replaced the phone. ‘Shall I call you a doctor to take a look at her?’