‘His wife is in the relatives’ room. Is there someone who can see her?’

Jago glanced at Charlotte. ‘Can one of your team go to her until we’ve stabilised him? Tell her we’ll be with her as soon as we have some news.’

Charlotte moved towards the door. ‘And if she wants to come and see him?’

Jago didn’t hesitate. ‘Then let her.’

Katy frowned and Jago raised an eyebrow in her direction.

‘Something wrong, Katy?’

At least he was calling her by her first name now, instead of referring to her as ‘Dr Westerling’. ‘I just thought it might be distressing for her to see him like this.’

‘It is distressing…’ Jago glanced across to check the ECG and the blood-pressure reading ‘…but studies have shown that on balance it’s probably better for the relatives to see the patient in Resus than not to see them.’

Annie looked up. ‘His blood pressure is falling, Jago.’

‘He needs blood and we need to call the surgeons and warn them that he’s likely to need a laparotomy.’

Jago looked impatiently towards the door and at that moment one of the nurses came hurrying in, carrying the blood bags.

‘At last.’ Jago reached out a hand and took one of the blood bags, attaching it quickly to the giving set. ‘Open the tap and let’s see if that helps.’

They worked to stabilise the man but the blood trans-fusion seemed to have no effect.

‘Still no improvement. OK, that tells us one of two things.’ Jago’s expression was grim. ‘Either the shock isn’t caused by bleeding, or he’s bleeding faster than we can infuse the blood—my money’s on the latter. He needs urgent surgical intervention. Has someone bleeped the surgeons?’

Charlotte nodded. ‘Mr Hart is on his way.’

‘Well, he’d better be quick.’ Jago turned his attention back to the patient, who was deteriorating by the minute.

‘His blood pressure is still falling.’ Annie looked at Jago expectantly and his mouth tightened.

‘Push that blood through faster.’

At that moment the door swung open and a tall, blond man strode into the room. ‘Jago?’

Jago gave a succinct report on the man’s condition and the surgeon examined him briefly.

‘You’re right. He’s bleeding. Let’s take him straight to Theatre.’

There was a flurry of activity and the man was transferred to the operating theatre for a laparotomy which would allow the surgeons to assess any internal damage.

Katy found herself alone in Resus with Charlotte. ‘Phew, what a mess!’ She glanced around the room, taking in the discarded blood bags, needles and other equipment.

‘What happens now?’

‘We clear it up ready for the next patient,’ Charlotte said immediately, thrusting needles into the sharps bin and scooping up soiled dressings. ‘Jago’s gone to talk to the relatives with Annie. Can I ask you something?’

‘Of course.’ Katy checked the intubation tray and ran another bag of saline through a giving set.

‘How do you two know each other?’

Katy’s eyes flew to hers and she thought about denying their past acquaintance, but Charlotte’s next words made her realise the futility of that approach.