It was the night before Christmas, when all through ED not a patient was stirring, except the drunk
guy in 3.
The nurses were stood by the station with poise, as all of a sudden the red phone made a noise.
The doctor was quick to answer the call, and soon wrote the details of a terrible fall.
The nurse in charge listened, as the doctor explained, “It’s someone called Nick, and he’s very
bloodstained!”
The team went to Resus to set up the bed, and a code red announced, due to damage to head.
Away to the helipad the porters did dash, as news travelled fast, about the man and the crash.
A guy with a beard had been on a roof, then slipped down the side for it was not skid proof.
He was now immobile, in collar and blocks, it had happened close by, not far from the docks.
“We’re coming by air, we gave txa,
we won’t be that long” the paramedic did say.
As quick as a flash, the consultant did come,
With a hi, a hello and a where are you from?
“Now Airway! Now Orthos! Now, Surgeons and Neuro! On, Belmont! On, Drug nurse!
On, Scribe and CT!
To the front of the booklet!
Sign in we all must!
Now stand ready! Stand ready! This is not time to fuss!”
As the helicopter landed, and the trauma arrived, the team heard the hand over, and wondered if
he’d survive.
His red suit was cut off, the timer begun, and the lead asked for quiet, for the timid F1.
“There are no signs of bleeding, just a bit by his ear, his airway is patent, his chest sounds are
clear.”
The X-ray was taken, the bloods they were sent, the check list was sounded, to CT they all went.
They came back to Resus to await the result, and all gossiped intently about this curious adult.
It’s Santa they joked and oh how they giggled, but he looked uneasy and started to wriggle.
“Stay still you must, until we know all is well,” “But I need to get going” he started to yell.
“I’ll just clean your wounds, as we wait the report,” he sighed, “ok fine” and let out a snort.
His head wound was glued and no fractures to note, this mans incredibly lucky, all staff dared to
quote.
“Why were you there, on the building so tall?”
“I couldn’t possibly tell you,” he had all enthralled.
The radiologist called to confirm all was ok, the patient was sat up and started to say,
“Thank you everyone, I feel really daft, but please get me some clothes, there’s a hell of a draft!”
In NHS pjs, and a pair of grip socks, he borrowed the phone as he looked at the clock.
He called up his buddy, he was anxious to go, he said he was worried about the incoming snow.
Cannula out, he got up to leave, staff were all stunned at their Christmas Eve.
They heard him exclaim, ‘ere he walked out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”