A MEMORABLE NON-PATIENT

Taking everyone in

I'm normally bad at names. I remembered this one only because the letter sat for so long in my in tray. It explained that she was a teacher and had a friend with leukaemia. Could I answer a few questions about the disease? The letter ended with a hint of a donation, if I could also give her the address of a leukaemia charity.

The problem was the questions read like the final paper for the examination of the Royal College of Pathologists. Other letters and documents seemed more urgent and important. Three weeks passed and it was nearing the end of the summer term. I had begun to get …