To distract him, Adam decided to discuss another subject.
“Can I talk to you about Dr Wright?”
Instantly attentive, George came to sit opposite.
Like all lawyers, he had this knack of listening through to the end without comment, letting Adam outline the situation. Only when he was done, did George lean back in his chair and let out a long breath. “This is disgraceful. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.”
“I found out from the pharmacist that he has deals with pharmaceutical reps for which they no doubt give him a cut, so he’s happy to overprescribe. Any medical care that doesn’t require drugs, he’s simply not interested in providing. There is no midwife on the island, which, considering how many young women you have here, is frankly dangerous.”
“What would you suggest?”
Adam had been thinking about this a lot since that night delivering Tirana’s baby.
“Well,” he said tentatively. “What’s the population on La Canette?”
“Approximately two thousand.”
“Of which you have about five hundred women of childbearing age?”
George nodded.
“So, you really need a mother and baby centre with a delivery room. Women can come for antenatal care, and after delivery they would need a lot of help for themselves and their infants. So a small lying-in ward of six beds, say.”
“And…?” George prompted.
“The place could also double as a women’s wellness clinic, giving advice on safe sex, dispensing free contraceptives, regular check-ups. Undetected infections can damage women’s reproductive organs if not their health.” He knew all too well, because his own mother had died of complications from such an infection.
“We also need a new doctor,” George finally said.
“Yes. You need to replace John Wright. He’s lazy and doesn’t seem to care to update his knowledge. You need someone on the ball who keeps up with the latest research, who cares enough to implement a long-term prevention and care policy.”
“In other words, a young doctor who cares, someone like –”
“Not me,” Adam interrupted. “I’m only here for another two weeks.”
“You are an obstetrician, and excellent one by all accounts.”
Adam chuckled. “‘All accounts?’ I only delivered one baby.”
George’s smile was knowing. “Here, but in London you have a terrific reputation.”
“You checked?”
A glint of humour flashed across George’s eyes. “You didn’t think I would go on holiday and leave my father in the care of a stranger, did you? He may call me a ‘useless son’ but I did my due diligence. You have one of the best names in the field, not only in research but as a practitioner. Your patient list is impressive.”
Adam blinked. George seemed very thorough. What else had he found out about him?
“I’m not staying here. I’m sorry.”
“That’s a shame. We need a good doctor, as you say, one who cares. I’m going to struggle to recruit a decent doctor to move here. Not many people would leave England for a tiny, rustic place like this.”
Adam’s eyes widened in disbelief. “People would jump at the chance. The island is incredible. All this clean air and natural beauty. And you have an amazing community.”
George said nothing, but the steady eye contact was far more eloquent than any words. It forced Adam to think, to examine his own feelings.
True, he loved the island, he’d been happy here. Happier than he’d been for years. He remembered all the gifts people had sent to Rovena and her daughter even without knowing them, the support and public spirit people dream about. What doctor wouldn’t wish to be part of such a community?
“They told me you were a clever negotiator.” He laughed. “But I can’t.”
