Possible Clues:

• Sweetums is one silly tender name!
• Pet name
• Tender name designed to be term of affection
• Love, affection
• Affection shown by extravagant chaps in hospital department
• Fancy man entered, showing sign of affection
• Sort of tender name? Indeed
• Love, maybe, expensive board items put in department
• Sweet nothing
• Kill the sound people, perhaps, with a little tea and a lot of love