'Butty' is a boy born with a disadvantage: his name. However, this soon becomes an asset. Butty's intelligence allows him to take up a career as a doctor, taking him from Yorkshire to London, eventually giving him a chance to visit Africa. As his career advances, he is offered the opportunity to work in Harley Street as well as St Catherine's Hospital. His experiences in both are different, but lead to his being able to defend 'his' hospital when it really matters.