Crossword Genius

Trauma centre surrounded by bigwigs - the snakes! (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

vipers

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'snakes' is the definition.
(viper is a kind of snake)

'trauma centre surrounded by bigwigs' is the wordplay.
'trauma centre' becomes 'er' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'surrounded by' is an insertion indicator.
'bigwigs' becomes 'vips' (I've seen this in another clue).
'er' inserted within 'vips' is 'VIPERS'.

'the' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for vipers that I've seen before include "21 [SNAKES]" , "Snakes, perhaps in bosoms" , "Venomous snakes" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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