Mother's Choice Doctors

Come on!

Have you seen Howard's latest email?

No.

He's calling for a strict code of conduct between the staff members.

-So?

-Well, he's hardly leading by example is he?

Do we have to do work emails before we've even clocked on?

Well, we're here now.

SHE SIGHS

Morning.

Al, can I have a word?

Do you think he's been stealing toilet paper again?

Maybe.

-Or...or somebody's complained about his bedside manner.

-Lack of.

Exactly. I wonder if Mrs T handled it?

I could give her a ring, but she wouldn't tell.

Hmm. They might have written in.

There was a hand-written envelope addressed to Howard the other day.

I didn't open it cos I thought it might be personal, but...

-Al, where are you off to?

-Campus. Rota's changed.

-Has it?

Renata Wicker.

Here is your temporary patient form. If you'd just like to take a seat.

How long will I have to wait?

At least 45 minutes, I'm afraid.

Are there any other clinics nearby?

Well, there is The Mill Health Centre, but there is no

drop-in clinic today, you will have to make an appointment.

It's just, the baby's got chickenpox

and I wouldn't want to spread it around.

-Chickenpox?

-It can be quite nasty in adults, especially the elderly.

Yes, yes, you are right. Let me take you straight through to see

Nurse Reid, just to be on the safe side.

Next Tuesday.

Did you read Howard's new Grievance Policy?

Yeah, I loved the bit about "unwanted conduct towards protected characteristics".

What exactly is a protected characteristic?

I'm not sure. Headscarves, crosses?

What about Howard's quiff? Do you think that qualifies?

I reckon he'd think it does.

No, I got the impression it was more about office flings.

That's rich coming from them!

Yep, the partners have set the bar pretty low in this practice.

So it can't be about them.

Do you think it's connected with Al?

Al?

Yeah, well cos, erm...the shift change, that's all Al.

-You know...

-What?

No, I shouldn't say.

Yes, you should.

Let me get back to you.

Yeah. It's definitely chickenpox, poor little mite.

Her temperature is quite high, have you given her any pain relief?

No, not yet. That's actually what I'm most worried about.

Her father's had an allergic response to paracetamol in the past,

his throat swelled up and he couldn't breathe.

Really? That's...that's very unusual.

I mean, I can check, but I'm pretty sure there's no genetic link.

-So she wouldn't have a problem?

-No, no more than any baby might.

But it's still possible?

There's a tiny chance,

but anaphylaxis is extremely rare with paracetamol.

So you think it's safe?

Yes, I do.

It would help with her fever and it will make her more comfortable.

I'm not sure. Her dad's away at the moment, so I'm on my own with this.

-If you like, we could give her some here.

-OK.

Any reaction will be pretty immediate, but we'll put her

in the sick bay for half an hour or so and keep her under observation.

Half an hour? Didn't you say it would be immediate?

Well, yeah, but it's better to be on the safe side, right?

"Harassment, defined as behaviour that can be either obvious or..."

HE SIGHS

Insidious.

Oh, no!

OK. This should help with the itching

and it's been half an hour, so she's absolutely fine with paracetamol.

-Good. You don't think those spots are infected?

-No.

No, but if they do become so,

bring her straight back and we'll give her some oral antibiotics.

-You wouldn't use an intravenous drip?

-What? No.

Oh, good...but I read on the internet that sometimes you need to

-use an intravenous drip with young babies.

-You are worrying far too much.

Chickenpox is very common.

She's a healthy little baby and she'll be over it in no time.

Howard's issued his email, as threatened.

More bureaucratic loo paper.

'Yeah, actually there's a bit for you in it, it says'

you're not allowed to treat me less favourably because I submitted to,

-or rejected, unwanted conduct of a sexual nature.

-'Hang on!'

I don't know where you got unwanted from.

'It's beautifully worded, the whole thing's full of pompous phrases.'

Maybe he got Heston to help him write it.

Well, it certainly needs an edit,

he must have used "appropriate" about ten times on the first page.

Appropriate!

That's the word that Joe has been trying to say all morning!

Joe said, "Appropriate"?

Yeah. He must have heard us talking about Al last night.

We would have said it loads of times.

'Appropriate. That's four syllables. Are you sure?'

Wow. He is 18 months, Daniel.

All the other kids at his daycare are still stuck on "Dada" and "Mama."

You know what this means, don't you?

KNOCK ON DOOR Just a minute.

Somebody's at the door, Zara, can we speak about this at lunch?

-Look, are you coming home then?

-'Just after two.'

Can't you slip out earlier than that?

-'I'll be lucky to get out by then.'

-All right, well, don't be late.

I'm so sorry. I didn't think they'd find us here.

Ladies first.

DOORBELL

Keep trying.

Hello?

I'm Juliana Bracks from Social Services,

we're wondering if you could help us?

We need to speak to your sister-in-law Renata Wicker?

You off to lunch?

-Yep.

-What do you think about Howard's email?

Oh, nothing really. Just standard procedural stuff.

Yeah, but he's changed the rota as well and I think it's connected.

I doubt it.

Yeah, well, you would know, as a partner,

why he'd issue such a thing?

Howard deals with all that stuff himself. Anyway, guess what?

Joe said, "Appropriate."

I'm off home now to teach him some more multisyllabic words.

Wow, that's a big word for a little boy.

I know. The boy's clearly talented. Like his parents.

You should...you should start with some basic medical terminology.

You'd have to break it down, at first, you know, like,

Di-ag-no-sis. Pneu-mo-thor-ax.

The silent P might be a bit tricky for a toddler,

but he can write as well, can't he?

-See you at four.

-Bye.

Still no answer.

Well, this is her car so she must be inside.

-Well, she's not opening up.

-Let's go knock a bit louder then,

-let her know we've seen her car and we know she's in there.

-She might not be in there,

-you know she might have gone somewhere on foot.

-Like where?

I don't know. A doctor's surgery? She might have gone for another opinion?

-Is there a doctor's nearby?

-Yeah, there is.

-I'll check it out, you stay here.

-I should come with you.

-You should watch the house.

-Yeah, but...

-In case they're in there.

Have you seen the new rota?

Yeah, I saw it, thanks.

Do you know all of Al's shifts have been moved?

Do you know why?

-Is it something to do with you?

-No.

You seem a bit upset by it.

-No, I don't.

-You walked out before when Karen was talking about it.

Look, I don't want to discuss it.

All right.

Are you OK?

Yeah.

This is PC Parker, he's looking for Renata Wicker and her baby.

Um..what's it regarding?

She left East District casualty last night refusing

treatment for her ten-week-old baby.

What was she refusing treatment for?

-The baby needed antibiotics.

-Really?

Yeah. Doctors Rankin and Hockey both diagnosed the baby with chickenpox,

and determined that it was in need of urgent intravenous antibiotics.

OK.

Well?

Well...yeah, I saw her and her daughter.

Ada had chickenpox, but she certainly wasn't in need of any antibiotics.

That might be your opinion, but it's not that of two doctors, Nurse...?

Reid.

She...she kept talking about the spots being infected

and I couldn't work out what she was talking about.

I mean, yeah, they were nasty but they definitely weren't infected.

Listen, we need to sort this. I reckon she's holed up around the corner at her sister-in-law's.

-Do you want me to go over and try to talk to her?

-If you think that'll make a difference.

Well, she might open up to someone she knows,

and I'd quite like to check on the baby.

You worried you missed something?

Let's go shall we?

DOOR CLOSES

Where's our little genius then?

He's just gone to sleep. I've been trying to read this article

all morning but Joe had other ideas.

What's for lunch?

Oh, you can look after yourself, whatever you want.

Did you know that a complex adjective is more in the territory of a six-year-old?

Is that just saying it or understanding the meaning?

I don't know yet, this is very complicated, but it's really interesting.

Early speech development is linked with

all sorts of other skills - music and maths and creativity.

You know, I have been thinking this for a quite a long time,

and I know most parents think it,

but I do genuinely think that Joe might be gifted.

Well, he's certainly very smart.

This is more than smart. I topped the whole infants' school at reading

-when I was in reception.

-I could read before I got to school.

Oh, well, he gets it from both sides then,

but this is different, this is a whole different category,

like...like Mozart playing symphonies at five.

-Or Bobby Fischer playing chess?

-Exactly.

From what I've read this morning, I think that Joe could be a prodigy.

Wow.

They're in there.

Hi, I'm Chris, from the Campus Surgery.

Juliana Bracks, Social Services.

Did Renata bring the baby in to you?

-Yeah.

-How was she?

Well, she had chickenpox and a temperature,

-but she was hydrated and she...she wasn't in any danger.

-That's good.

I honestly think the hospital have got this wrong, I don't understand why...

Would you call through the letter box?

Renata. It's Chris, the nurse, from the surgery this morning.

I just wanted to check if the baby's OK?

Hello?

Stop wasting our time Mrs Wicker, we've seen the car

and we know you're in there.

I want you to come out with the baby.

-With your hands up?

-You got a problem?

Well, yeah, you could tread a bit more lightly.

We do need to see the baby.

Look, she'll come out. We've just got to wear her down.

-Wear her down?

-Oh, that's her!

Great! If that baby takes a turn for the worse, that's on you.

-I'll get a call out for the car, yeah?

-We'll be in touch.

Look, really, the baby is fine.

Mrs Tembe, I'm just popping to The Mill.

-Do you need anything?

-The Mill?

-The Mill.

-You're going to The Mill?

-Yeah. I left my stethoscope behind.

Well, aren't there stethoscopes you can use here?

They're sub-optimal.

Surely they are adequate enough for an afternoon.

I'm here tomorrow as well. Is there a problem, Mrs Tembe?

I have been informed under no circumstances

-am I allowed to let you go to The Mill.

-Have you now?

That is correct.

Well, I'll just go for a walk then.

I can arrange for your stethoscope to be

dropped off as soon as possible!

Was she there? Is the baby OK?

I thought Karen was in charge of reception gossip.

Mrs Tembe was concerned.

She didn't like the policeman's attitude.

Me neither.

She drove off while we were knocking on the door

and the police have got a search out for the car.

When you called me, you said that the spots weren't infected.

They weren't.

I should've seen her myself.

-Thanks(!)

-No.

It's just that then it would be the two of us against them. Look,

if they don't find her, this thing is going to snowball.

Yeah, and I'm going to get questioned by the police and Social Services.

Maybe I did miss something.

You didn't. And you know how careful we are with babies.

But we do need to find her, to prove it.

What if you went back alone? Would the sister-in-law tell you where she is?

-I doubt it.

-Well, it's worth a try.

Yeah, yeah, maybe.

The mother is obviously panicking,

the sister-in-law probably doesn't even want to be involved.

Make sure she understands how easily all this can be stopped.

Yeah, I know.

If the baby's OK, then all we have to do is let the authorities know.

Mum! Look, I know what to say.

OK.

I thought you'd driven off.

That was my sister-in-law.

Why didn't you answer the door before?

I don't trust the police or Social Services,

and I won't let them take Ada.

They won't take her.

They will if I don't do what they say.

Why didn't you tell me that you'd been to the hospital?

You would have just agreed with the doctors.

I'd really like to check on Ada, is that OK?

Yeah.

I've got to get back to work.

How long has he been down?

An hour, hour and a half.

That's long enough, isn't it?

Don't wake a sleeping baby.

-But hold on, I recorded it.

-You recorded it?

He was saying it over and over, little show off that he is.

I thought I'd better we record it in case we might need to show it

to some educators, or specialists, or something. Here.

You listen.

I think it sounds like a "foot" or something.

-Oh.

-What?

Oh. He dropped a book on his foot.

He's saying he's got "a poor foot".

"Joe could be a prodigy." He's got a poorly foot!

Well, you were convinced too! You were looking up specialist schools.

You were booking him Suzuki violin lessons.

You're the one with the cousin called Huey the human computer!

Well, let this be a lesson to us BOTH not to put

so much pressure on him.

Let's never mention the word "gifted" in this household again.

Deal.

Unless, of course, he beats us at Scrabble tonight.

Why didn't you ask for a second opinion?

I did, but it was this young intern, he examined her for two seconds

then repeated what the senior doctor had said.

That's rubbish. I wish you'd told me though.

She wasn't even that unwell. I only took her in to casualty

because I was worried about her reacting to paracetamol.

The next thing I know, they're talking drips.

Well, you do know that you can refuse treatment.

I know that if you refuse treatment,

the doctors call in the social workers.

Yeah, but that's only if they think the baby's at risk.

And only once Social Services are involved, they have to investigate.

You've never been in care, have you?

I have. Once Social Services get involved, the system takes over.

Everyone would rather do the safe thing.

They're all too busy watching their own backs to fight your corner.

OK. Well, they're not going to stop chasing you now.

I didn't really think it through.

-Well, it's all right, we can fix it.

-How?

We just need to get some doctors on our side.

Well, I have absolutely no idea why they thought intravenous

antibiotics were appropriate. The spots aren't infected.

I think you've had an encounter with incompetence.

-Thanks, Al. You're a star.

-Well, best get on.

Right. Well, I think we should ring the police.

I'm not sure it's enough.

-We could take her back to the hospital, they could reassess her.

-I'm not going back there.

I think we should ring the police now, otherwise, they'll accuse you of not being transparent.

Well, hang on, let's just think about it for a minute.

Um...why don't we just take her to St Phil's?

Because you already have the assessment of two GPs.

We're the same level.

Yeah, but if we've got a hospital behind us,

-then they're be bound to drop it.

-It's a good idea.

Chris, the police will view any delay critically.

The longer this goes on, the more scrutiny you'll be under.

Let's go to your hospital.

It's OK, Mum. If we're lucky at A&E, we'll only be another hour.

KNOCK ON DOOR

So?

Yeah, I was totally on the wrong track with that.

-Well, what was the track?

-It doesn't matter now, does it?

But it was about Al?

Oh, Karen! I've got to finish this room.

You've changed your tune.

Look, I just think it's a sensitive issue, that we

should steer clear of.

It's four o'clock. Shouldn't you be getting ready to open up?

PHONE RINGS

-PC Parker.

-'Hi, I'm calling from the Campus Surgery.'

Just to let you know that Renata Wicker

and her baby have gone to casualty at St Phil's.

To St Phil's?

'Yes, and the baby is fine.'

Right, according to Nurse Reid.

Well, I've seen her as well.

'And you're another nurse?'

No, I'm a doctor.

Well, I'm glad he sought advice from his superiors.

He seemed to have a pretty high opinion of himself for a nurse.

'And your name is?'

Dr Reid.

Any relation to Nurse Reid?

-His mother.

-Well, I hope they're still there then.

Of course they're still there,

and Dr Haskey has seen the baby as well.

'Thanks for the information, Dr Reid,'

I'm think you'll appreciate I need to be on my way.

Oh, there you are. Karen, I'm off to the station for a meeting

and then home.

-You couldn't pop to the Campus, could you, and give Al his stethoscope?

-Yeah, sure.

I don't know why he can't pick it up himself.

Mrs Tembe was most particular it had to be brought to him.

Well, maybe he's busy, you know.

You don't know what's going on with Al, do you?

I wasn't aware of anything that was going on, no.

Well, first it was the email, and then it was the rota change -

-mostly Al's shifts - and now this.

-Look, sorry, I'm going to be late.

See if you can find out what's going on.

Karen, even if I though something was going on, which I don't,

-I wouldn't tell you.

-Why not?

Because Al's a mate. Now give me that.

Now don't go anywhere, Renata, we just need to see the baby.

Chris!

It's OK. I was just about to call you.

Sure you were.

Ada's fine. Three doctors have examined her now, including

one in this hospital, and they all agree that it was a misdiagnosis.

Your baby's in no danger.

And which doctor said this?

There you go. There's a copy of his notes.

Well, it looks like it's been a false alarm.

Maybe medically, but this woman's caused a lot of trouble

running off like that. It's totally irresponsible.

This may not be a police matter any more but Social Services will be pursuing this.

No, we won't.

Once we've verified the other doctors' diagnosis, I'm happy to let it go.

Thank you.

The fact that you sought help elsewhere proves that you

were acting responsibly and in the interest of your baby.

But she's wasted time and resources.

I've saved my baby from unnecessary, invasive treatment.

What if the baby's condition had gotten worse?

But it didn't, did it? All right, Renata's instincts were right.

She felt like the situation was being taken out of her control,

she felt intimidated.

-Like you're intimidating her right now.

-Is that so, Nurse Reid?

If it wasn't for Mummy calling the station and letting us know

what you were up to, I'd have you for obstruction.

-Oh, really(?)

-PC Parker,

why don't you go and confirm that other doctor's statement?

All right?

KNOCK ON DOOR

Special delivery.

Thanks, mate. I hope it wasn't too much of a bother.

No, I'm on my way to a meeting. You, OK?

Well, clearly I've had better days.

Well, I've got to fly now but fancy a drink later?

-Sure.

-Icon?

-Icon.

-See you there, mate.

The fever should go in about a day or so, just try to um...

try not to let her scratch the sores cos

they still could become infected.

-MOBILE PHONE BEEPS

-I'll put socks on her hands at night.

Yeah, that's a good idea.

Brenda will be here soon.

I'll wait here, so there's no need for you to stay.

Oh, you...you sure?

Of course. Thanks for your help today, I appreciate it.

That's no problem.

Um...I just want to apologise for my mum,

for phoning the police. She always thinks she knows best.

She was worried.

It's the ultimate excuse, isn't it? "I was worried about you."

It's what mother's do.

It's just another form of control.

Except, thanks to her, that policeman can't say you

delayed the search, so now you're not on record as a troublemaker.

Yeah, but, you know, it's like you were saying,

everybody watching their own backs before fighting your corner.

It wasn't her back she was watching.

Oh, here he comes.

You did the right thing.

-All right?

-Hello.

A bit of chicken tagine tonight?

Sure.

How did it go at the hospital?

Er...good. Yeah, Social Services dropped it.

And how was PC Parker?

Suitably annoyed.

Good.

So...what kind of olives are you using in your tagine?

Usually, I get violet.

Oh, I've got green.

Green will work just as well. You are in for a treat, Dr Reid.

Can't wait!

What do you mean, you went too far?

I couldn't stop myself from thinking about her, all the time.

I just felt this need to see her, be close to her,

so...I used to park outside her house.

What, like a stake out?

-It was only sometimes.

-How often?

The third...fourth time she saw me.

And she freaked out?

I just wanted to help to her, protect her.

-You must have known she'd feel threatened by this, mate?

-Honestly, I didn't.

I didn't think she'd see me, did I?

-But you can see her point of view now, can't you?

-Yeah.

You gotta think about how she feels, put yourself in her shoes.

She must think I'm a creep.

Yeah, well, can you blame her?

You need to keep your head down, keep away from her.

You know, the worst thing about this is that

I can't talk to her about it.

-No. That's exactly what you can't do.

-Howard's banned me from The Mill.

He'd even ban me from here if he could.

Howard's just trying to give everyone some space.

But why did she even go to him with it?

Because it's the right thing to do.

We could have sorted it out, the two of us.

She didn't want to deal with you, mate. She shouldn't have to.

You're the one that's overstepped, mate. You need to back off.

Who opened that door?

It wasn't like that when I went out to the shops.

Hold it right there! The police are on their way.

I took my bracelet off, gave it a rinse,

and left it here, only it's... not there any more.

He looked at Mrs Hollins with eyes full of hate

and then he turned to me with eyes full of lust.

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