Chapter 1 - Beginning
"So, we need a new doctor what are you going to do about it". There was a partners meeting to discuss staff shortages.
"Well, you do like to say how it is thank you Zara", Bear was leading the meeting.
"I like to think so yes", Zara smiling her usual self-confidence.
"Now back to the official agenda..."
"Yes Bear, Daniel what do you think? We could always hire a trainee. As a practice we haven't had one for a while and would up the reputation of The Mill", Zara suggested
"Um, have we got the funds, It's not worth rushing into things. Anyway, we had the whole Princess mistake. If anything from that comes out in the press then that's the reputation of The Mill gone down the pan. Wasn't Princess meant to be our trainee project".
"I'm not rushing into anything just considering the options. If not a trainee who else?", Zara darting eyes across to Daniel's.
"What about locums?", Bear was holding this meeting after all.
"Bear, you know how expensive they are and we'd have to pay them for a long time, we don't know how long this is going to go on for. Hiring a locum isn't a ideal replacement". Zara folding her arms.
"Okay point taken. So we agree it's best for the practice to hire a trainee?"
"Bear, not all of us agreed, didn't realise Zara was deciding for all of us now", looking at Zara.
"Oh grow up Daniel, if you'd come up with an idea then maybe you could have persuaded me to change my mind. I don't have to do everything for you", Zara looked away,
"Look, I'm sorry I didn't have Joe at the weekend, but I had already made plans, what was I meant to do, just change them to suit you",
"You could have told me. Instead of me upsetting Emma, we had been planning our night out for months",
"OKAY, can we try and come back to the conversation of work please", Bear feeling like the piggy in the middle.
"Well, if that's all I have patients". Zara stood up and left.
Zara and Daniel were in the staff room sat at the table when Bear came in,
"So, the advert is up for the trainee position on the website and social media sites", smiling at the both.
"Good", Daniel walked out with his lunch to go to his room.
"ignore him, spoiled ego is all", laughing slightly,
"Just please try and keep things civil, not sure I can cope with any more arguments". Bear walked off and back to this office.
A few days had passed with no response to the advert. Emma and Zara were working at The Mill today,
"We need more hands, and there have been more patients registering in the last couple of weeks than in previous months and...", Emma Sulked in her chair in the office,
"Emma, drink your coffee. And we have advertised for a trainee", Zara smiling to try and encourage her friend.
"Another trainee. You can't be serious",
"Why what's wrong with that?",
"Look how Princess turned out and to be honest with my police surgeon duties I don't think I can take on another trainee. I haven't got a single appointment canceled for tomorrow and the next coming weeks. We need someone permanent to take the slack, someone who is qualified and knows what they are doing",
"Right. Was that all you wanted to say" Zara wasn't happy.
"Not all no...",
"...Well", Zara was irritated at this point.
"Just wondered if you wanted to come over to mine this evening, wine and a catch up", Emma looking at Zara with puppy eyes,
"fine", Leaving, Zara didn't look back only leaving Emma laughing to herself.
Zara sat in her office, always the large one at the end of the building looking out into the car park. Pondering on what Emma's concerns were about the staffing issue.
Vibrating phone* 'Daniel's' name appeared on the screen,
"What do you want?", Zara was now the one sulking in her office,
"Thats nice, still angry with me then", Daniel laughing,
"No. Sorry",
"What's up then",
"Oh, just Emma being right as always, something she mentioned about the staffing issue",
"What was that then",
"Just pointing out we need someone permanent who is fully qualified. On reflection we have been the busiest with new registered patients we have had in a long time. Maybe shes right. Maybe a trainee isn't such a good idea",
"Well, interestingly enough, Best phoned me earlier and no one has even gone and viewed the advert. Theres still time to alter it. Shall I get onto it and speak to Bear and tell him how my partner was a cow", speaking in a jokey way,
"Hey, who are you calling a cow",
"Sorrryy"
"No, it's okay, this cow will change the advert and you can speak to Bear" *pause, "And tell him I'm sorry",
"Of course. speak later got to go, Joe's playing up",
" Yes of course, send him my love". Smiling Zara canceled the call and got onto the advert.
A few days later
An email had been sent around to all staff about the interview process. Bear and the partners had made a short list and arranged the interviews for the following day. All staff had been briefed and all was ready to go.
The day of the interviews
Outside The Mill, a young looking girl in a smart jacket came through the front doors up to reception. Valerie was on reception today.
"Good morning, are you here for the interviews", Both smiled in acknowledgment,
"Great, take a seat and I'll let them know your here". *pause* "Hi Bear, your next interviewee is here shall I send them straight through...okay".
"Excuse me, you can go through their ready for you now", both smiled again.
On the panel was Daniel, Zara, Bear and Rhuma.
"Hello, take a seat", Zara kept the though of thinking she had seen Emilia from somewhere before but wasn't sure. They both smiled and spoke pleasantries then sat.
Most of the questions were standard, but it was the medical experience and knowledge the panel wanted to know the most about.
Bear began the process,
"So... Emilia, what training have you got in relation to the position?",
"Well, after GCSEs, I specialised in midwifery with a district group of midwives while studying Health and Social care before medical school and then various positions in ED at Holby City, rotations of departments but always midwifery and emergency medicine for me.
"Thank you",
"I see there is a good number of months gap in your employment, can you explain this?",
"Sure, I took an extended holiday abroad to see family in Africa",
"Thank you",
Zara asked some scenario questions then asked Emilia to await the decision with some of the other candidates in the staff room.
"She was good, I though she was professional, hard working and knew her stuff. what do you think Zara?". Smiled in agreement.
"Well, I think we shall send them to lunch because it's a difficult decision", Bear was looking through the candidates paperwork.
"I don't, I agree with Daniel. Emilia is right for the job, shall I go and tell her the good news".
"Yep, agreed, Daniel?", *he nodded*
"Okay, I'm going out for lunch, see you back for afternoon surgery". Zara left.
Heading to the staff room, on the way, Zara told Karen to send thank you but no thank you emails to the other candidates. Emilia had got the job.
On arrival Zara and Emilia met,
"Congratulations Emilia, you got the job, welcome to The Mill",
"Thank you, I accept", shaking hands with Zara,
" Good, now grab your things I'm taking you to lunch to celebrate",
"You haven't changed",
"Excuse me",
"You don't recognize me do you, I'm a former patient...of Lily's, Dr Hassan",
"Oh it's...", Zara was about to say a name,
"Please don't say it, it's Emilia now", smiling
"Come here, it's so good to see you, must have been how long...", they gave each other a friendly embrace,
"too long",
"I'm sorry. Right proper chat over lunch, come on". The girls grabbed their coats, and went to the Icon.
Zara and Emilia.sat at a small table at the back.
"So, tell",
"Domestic abuse, I had to change everything to keep myself safe",
Zara whispered, "From Mark",
Emilia looked shifty but smiled
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to...",
Emilia put a hand on Zara's, "it's okay, don't worry about it".
pause*
"You and Daniel still at each others throats then!", Emilia wanted to change the subject,
"How do you know!",
"It's obvious!". There was a pause before they both started laughing.
"I'm meeting a friend tonight after work, fancy tagging along?",
"I don't want to jump on your plans",
"No you wouldn't. And anyway, it would be nice to catch up",
vibrating phone* 'Lily' appeared on the screen,
"won't be a sec", Emilia went outside and took the phone call. Zara text Daniel.
Emilia.answered,
"I got the job", Smiling
"That's fantastic, congratulations, I'll cook us something special for dinner if you like?", Lily was sat at home, she had the day off from police surgeon duties at other police station she was now working at.
"Oh lily, Zara asked to go out and catch up, she didn't recognize me at first",
"That's fine, I'm so please for you. Go and see Zara, text me later yeah!",
"Of course, will do. Thank you Lily, I'll be back later and we can have a celebration at the weekend",.
"Yes, speak later. take care". The phones were hung up and Emilia went back into the Icon.
"Sorry about that. Lily was as anxious as I was about today. All done",
They both had lunch and went back to The Mill where all the paperwork was sorted and was ready to start work.
"Now you have had your your of the practice, let's find you a consulting room. Each consultant has their own but occasionally may need to swap if needs be. Here you go, I'll make sure Bear changes the sign on the door, I'll leave you to settle in". Zara smiled and left Emilia to it.
Emilia room was the one across the corridor from the staff room, ironically Zara's old room when she first joined. After getting settled, sorting some more paperwork and starter training, the day had ended.
knock knock*
"Come in", Emilia smiled as Zara walked in, all her bags with her and coat on ready to leave,
"So, do you need a lift home or not", Sitting in the chair next to the deck,
"Actually, Lily was going to pick me up, just going to get a taxi", Emilia finally packed her bags too,
"Well, your taxi is now free, I'm taking you home and then coming with me to Emma's", *pause Zara walking out the door*
"Come on",
Emilia laughing to herself, closing the door of her room behind her.