Read Donor for Free Online

programme,’ continued Bannon.
    ‘Exactly,’ said Ross.
    ‘But,’ said Bannon, holding up his index finger, ‘only if the receipts from the transplant unit amount to no more than twenty per cent of the total income of the hospital. As it is, income from your unit currently amounts to sixty per cent of profits.’
    Ross slumped back in his seat and looked towards Giordano. Giordano was whispering to the Médic Ecosse accountant by his side but his expression told everyone the question. The nod he got in reply told everyone the answer.
    ‘But any adjustment in line with these figures would effectively bring my research to a halt,’ said Ross, obviously upset.
    ‘I’m sorry, Doctor,’ said Bannon. ‘But I repeat, this is a hospital not a university.’
    ‘In that case, gentlemen, I may have to consider my position very seriously,’ said Ross, gathering his papers together.
    There was general discomfort at the way Ross was being singled out by Bannon. Everyone bar him seemed to realize that Ross was the hospital’s main asset. Without Ross and the transplant unit the hospital would be doomed to closure anyway, but the government side seemed determined to take a hard line.
    Dunbar, as an outside observer, could only assume that the Scottish Office, riled by rumours of Médic International trying to put something over on them, had decided to take a tremendous gamble. He suspected that the ultimatum was really a bluff and they would back down if it looked as if Ross was going to resign. As Ross was head of the unit he was interested in, he was keen to see how things were going to turn out.
    Bannon watched Ross prepare to leave the table before saying, ‘Doctor, I sincerely hope that you’ll find it possible to continue performing the marvellous feats of surgery you’ve been doing over the past few years.’
    Ross acknowledged the words with the merest hint of a smile. He had obviously been totally unprepared for what had happened. He cleared his throat and asked, ‘Is there any room for compromise in the figures?’
    ‘I’m afraid not,’ replied Bannon.
    Ross swallowed, then rose from the table, ‘If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen,’ he said. ‘There are things I have to do.’
    Bannon said, ‘Believe me, Doctor, if there was some way we could continue funding you we would. I know how strongly you feel about your research and it does you credit. I urge you not to make any rash decisions. Things might be very different should this hospital start to give returns worthy of its potential.’
    The Labour councillor, sitting opposite Dunbar, leaned across and whispered to him, ‘Bloody hypocrite. They don’t give a damn about research. Profit’s the only thing that lot understand.’
    Dunbar smiled at the man’s volte-face in now defending Médic Ecosse, but he took his point. Ross did seem to be getting a raw deal. He could feel the tension round the table. People knew how high the stakes had gone. It was like watching a high-roller at the roulette wheel.
    ‘Would there be any other conditions?’ asked Giordano as Ross left the room. He said it tongue-in-cheek, clearly expecting a negative reply.
    Bannon took the question at face value. ‘Yes,’ he replied. There would. We’d like to do something about the public perception of the hospital. There will be deep resentment at further public funding of a private institution, whatever the circumstances. If we were to reach agreement and the public were to inject yet more cash into a facility that for the most part they have no access to – even if it is just for long-term business reasons – I think Médic Ecosse might have to make some kind of popular altruistic gesture in return.’
    ‘Some kind of public relations exercise you mean?’ asked Giordano.
    ‘If you like. I thought perhaps you might consider offering free treatment to a reasonable number of Scots NHS patients who would benefit from your highly specialized equipment and professional