Rounding with the consultant

An unusual thing happened today – the consultant came to round with us. She rushed through the critical cases (the patients crowded around the one oxygen tank) and then “had to leave”. But we had one more not-quite-usual case that our SHO wanted her to round on to give the team some advice. Dr. Wilson had just started presenting this case when the consultant turned to me, and asked me for the time. It was 10.05am. “Oh no, I have to leave for a very important meeting. So sorry.” And she left, right in the middle of the patient presentation. Even the patient was shocked by this incident. “Where is that doctor going in such a hurry?” I had come to understand that here, nobody rushed to anything; they only rushed away from something. But I just smiled and repeated what the consultant said. “She has an uber-important meeting that requires her presence – STAT.”