First Blood

Dr. Barnabas is the new pathologist at a big inner city hospital. She is also a police surgeon — and the first woman to hold either post. Her first post-mortem is on a well-known author, and surrounded by the entire attendant media circus. But trouble starts when she cannot find a cause of death. Author Claire Rayner's insight into medical issues led her to launch a number of high-profile campaigns, including raising awareness of incontinence, tackling the problems of migraines, and instigating the Medical Passport scheme. Her gift for communication resulted in probably her best-known role as agony aunt for problem pages in The Sun, the Sunday Mirror, and Today. She was also a frequent contributor to radio and television broadcasts on matters of health, relationships, and contemporary morality. She spoke regularly on matters relating to care of the elderly in her capacity as commissioner to the Royal Commission on Long Term Care of the Elderly.