‘And the other members of you family had nausea, vomiting and headache?’
‘Yes,’ she groaned, closing her eyes. ‘I did wonder if it was something we’d eaten, but the GP said there is a gastric bug going around.’
‘Her sats are fine,’ Stella murmured, looking at the monitor.
‘The saturation level equals the sum of oxyhaemaglobin and carboxyhaemoglobin, so it’s unreliable. It isn’t going to tell us what we want to know,’ Daniel murmured. ‘I want to give her the highest concentration of oxygen possible—use a rebreathing mask. I want to check her COHb levels. And let’s do an ECG. Diane …’ Daniel turned back to the patient ‘… I don’t think this is a virus. I agree with Stella—I think you might have carbon monoxide poisoning.’
The woman looked at him blankly. ‘What?’
‘There’s been quite a lot about it in the papers. It’s a tasteless, odourless gas—it basically lowers the oxygen-carrying capacity of your blood. What sort of heating do you have at home?’
‘We’re in a rented flat,’ Diane gasped. ‘We have a gas fire in the living room. We tend to congregate there to save on heating bills. Do you think—?’
‘I suspect that the fire might be a problem.’
‘Oh, my God—the kids are in the house.’ Panic flaring in her eyes, Diane struggled to sit up. ‘My husband—’
‘We’re going to deal with it, Diane. Right now. Lie down and think about yourself for a moment.’ Her tone soothing, Stella put the oxygen mask on the anxious woman, adjusted the flow to maximum and then looked at Daniel. ‘Do you want me to call the house?’
‘I’ll do it. You do that ECG.’
Stella attached the leads to Diane’s chest and had just switched the machine on when Daniel strode back into the room.
‘Diane, there was no reply from your house,’ he said gently, ‘so I’ve called the fire brigade and the paramedics. It’s just a precaution, but if we’re right, we need to get the rest of your family in here as soon as possible.’
Diane’s eyes were bright with tears. ‘I had no idea! I just left them. I thought they were asleep!’
‘We’re getting someone round there now, Diane,’ Stella said soothingly, but Diane just shook her head.
‘What if it’s too late?’
Daniel’s mobile rang and he answered it swiftly, giving instructions to the paramedics.
‘They’re at the door now and there’s no answer—is there a key anywhere?’
‘Flower pot,’ Diane murmured weakly, and Daniel relayed that message to the emergency services on the scene. Moments later he was nodding and smiling.
‘You’re sure? OK. Yes, I’ll tell her that.’ He dropped the phone into his pocket and smiled at Diane. ‘Your husband is awake, Diane. They’re getting the children out of the house now and they’ll assess them in the ambulance.’
Diane closed her eyes briefly. ‘Are they OK? Please tell me they’re OK.’
‘They’re going to give them oxygen and transfer them straight to us.’
‘Dan? Do you want to look at this ECG?’ Stella stood to one side and Daniel scanned the strip of paper.
‘That looks all right. Nothing there that worries me.’
‘Why did that GP tell me it was a virus?’ Diane fretted, and Daniel slipped the ECG reading into the notes.
‘Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to miss.’
‘You didn’t miss it.’
‘We’re a busy emergency department—we’re more alert to the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning than the average family doctor.’
‘But if you hadn’t thought of it—’
‘You can thank this nurse.’ Daniel’s gaze slid to Stella. ‘She was the one who was suspicious. And rightly so.’ His eyes rested on her face for a moment and she smiled and then turned away, part of her wishing that they didn’t work together so well. Maybe if she didn’t admire him as much as a doctor …
A siren sounded outside the department and Daniel moved towards the door. ‘That will be the rest of your family. I’ll go and see to them and then I’ll come back. Stella, if you need me, shout.’ He strode out of the room, leaving Stella with a very worried Diane.
‘Can I go and see them?’
‘You’re not well enough.’ Stella encouraged her to stay on the trolley. ‘Give Daniel time to assess them, and then I’ll go and find out what is going on.’
But she didn’t need to because Daniel walked into the room less than ten minutes later. ‘I’ve done a preliminary examination and it does seem to be carbon monoxide poisoning, but they’re going to be fine,’ he assured Diane. ‘Your husband is conscious and talking and the boys woke up once they were removed from the house. Your husband has contacted your landlord and the fire department will be dealing with him.’ He checked the blood results. ‘Her COHb levels are high,’ he murmured to Stella. ‘I’m going to talk to the infirmary—I’m wondering whether she would benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy.’
‘I thought that was controversial?’
‘I think it might be appropriate in Diane’s case. I’ll call them.’ He strode out of the room again just as Ellie walked in.
‘Diane? I’ve been looking after your lovely boys,’ she said, ‘and I wanted to let you know that they’re doing fine. We’ve given them oxygen and they’re sitting up and chatting. They’ve told me everything that’s on their Christmas lists and all I can say is I hope you won the lottery recently.’
‘They’re all right?’ Diane clutched Stella’s hand. ‘It’s because of you,’ she said hoarsely. ‘It’s because of you they’re alive. I can’t believe I just thought they were tired. You saved our lives.’
‘She’s a miracle,’ Ellie agreed, winking at Stella, ‘but don’t tell her too often or she’ll expect a pay rise and we don’t do things like that around here.’
Stella smiled at her friend and squeezed Diane’s hand. ‘I’m just relieved that your family is all right.’
‘If you hadn’t thought of it—or if that doctor hadn’t taken you seriously—’
‘I always take her seriously,’ Daniel drawled from the doorway, a gleam in his eyes as he glanced briefly at Stella. ‘Diane, I’ve spoken to my colleagues and I’m transferring you for some special treatment, and the others, too.’
Stella helped with the arrangements and once Diane had been transferred, she went back to the room to clear up.
‘Well done. You just made someone’s Christmas.’ Daniel stood in the doorway and her heart danced an uneven rhythm because the way he was looking at her was achingly familiar.
‘I’m just glad it turned out all right.’ She pushed the ECG machine to the end of the cubicle, reminding herself to keep it professional. If they just talked about work, it would be fine. ‘How are the children? Ellie said they should be fine.’
‘Their COHb levels were quite high, but hopefully they won’t suffer any long-term problems. The fire brigade wore breathing apparatus when they went in. Apparently the gas fire was lethal. Blocked flue or something.’ He strolled into the room, his eyes on hers. ‘Good job, Stella. I’ve missed working with you.’ His gruff male tones melted her bones to liquid.
‘I’ve missed working with you, too,’ she breathed, her hands tightening around the side of the trolley. ‘You’re a good doctor.’
There