Critical Care Doctors

That's better.

Much thanks.

He's doing very well.

You can take him home when he's finished his breakfast.

What? Sorry, today?!

Excellent news!

His muscles haven't healed from the operation.

It's still very painful when he stands.

He shouldn't be walking much more than a few minutes a day.

So, make sure he's got plenty of magazines

and the remote before you go out, all right?

I'll take time off, but I can't be with him round the clock

and I'm not a physio. He's just not strong enough yet.

His leg gives way without any notice,

and there's nothing I can do to stop him falling again.

He needs building up, and I can't do that for him.

He can stand with assistance,

so he can be discharged.

Yes, I'm here, thank you.

It's not safe.

Right, OK.

SHE SIGHS

Blimey, you're early! Ran out of cornflakes?

Good, you're still here.

I considered the Savoy, but you have to book, apparently...

I mean, you're still in bed.

I decided to leave my run till the afternoon(!)

Morticia says I can take you home.

Oh.

Now, is it?

Righto. I'd best get a shift on.

You're going nowhere, Dad.

Stay there, don't get dressed.

Possession is nine tenths of the law.

-Squatters' rights, and all that?

-Too right! I'm going to fix this.

FOOTSTEPS RETREAT

It's not going to work.

DOOR OPENS

-Ah, good morning. I hear you're going away for the weekend.

-Yes.

It is important to stay in touch with friends.

What about you, have you got any plans?

Well, I have promised to go to the women's prayer breakfast tomorrow.

I've not attended in some time.

Sounds...fun.

Indeed. Fellowship is always heartier over a bacon sandwich.

Ain't that the truth! See you later.

What's wrong?

SHE SIGHS

Miss Hill will be there.

The Reverend Merchant thinks it will be good

for us to spend some time together in a supportive environment.

She is right, of course.

I just wish I hadn't agreed to go.

If you want to...

That is not necessary. But, thank you, Dr Clay.

Mrs Tembe!

-Yes, Mr Bellamy.

-Can I have a word?

The way we invite people for our over-45s check-up -

I was wondering if there's any way we can increase the take-up?

I really could not say.

Do you think people would be offended

if they received specific appointments?

Or do you think it would push up the no-shows?

I will do whatever is asked of me.

Yes, well, just wanted your opinion. You, more than anybody,

have a direct interface across our whole user profile.

I have always found the process here has been perfectly acceptable.

There is certainty in a good system.

Right.

SHE SIGHS

-All set for the dinner tonight?

-You bet. Thanks for asking me, Reg.

It doesn't have to be a big speech, just a few appropriate words.

Proposing the Toast To Fallen Comrades is the main thing.

I'm on it. I can't tell you what a privilege it is, Reg.

-Especially this year, with the centenary.

-Indeed. Lest we forget.

The ones we lost then, and all the others since.

I want to do their memory proud.

You've just got to be yourself and you can't fail to honour them.

Must dash. Got to go and get the floral arrangements. See you later.

-Can I help you?

-Hi. I'd like to register my father here, please.

-Kenneth Jewell.

-Is he here?

-No. It's OK, I've got his permission.

I am sure. But he has to attend in person.

Just ask him to drop in at his convenience

and we will take him through the application.

-For pity's sake! All this needless bureaucracy!

-Far from it.

The nurse will go through his medical history.

She will check blood pressure, his cholesterol,

his BMI, which might not have been checked for a while.

She can offer health tips

and answer any questions.

It is an excellent way for the practice and new patients

to get to know each other.

That's no use to me. I need him registered now.

Miss Jewell, are you registered here?

Well, no. I live in Orton Harcourt. I'm with the practice there.

-And does your father live with you?

-Yes. He's come to live with me.

Orton Harcourt? A beautiful spot.

Unfortunately, that's out of our catchment area.

Would it not be better

for your father to be registered at your surgery?

Well, obviously, I'd much prefer that,

but it has to be a practice in Letherbridge.

Well, I am sorry, but we cannot register him here.

All these ridiculous rules!

Well, it's about logistics - home visits.

Orton Harcourt is quite far out. It's on the other side.

-We can't go zigzagging around the area.

-Red tape!

It comes down to patient care.

By using our resources efficiently, we can provide the best service

-available to the patients we do treat.

-And stuff the rest!

Why? She's going to be 30 for a whole year.

Why do you have to be there for the exact moment she turns?

I don't want to go, believe me. Especially now.

But I might not make it to MY next birthday if I don't go to this party.

-Some friend(!)

-We've been planning it for ever.

-Skype! Skype her.

-You can't Skype the kind of bash we've got planned.

And you can't Skype Guinness that tastes like Guinness.

-Ah. Well, in that case, you must go.

-I must go.

You going to miss me?

Me? No, I won't miss you. I've got myself some plans.

-Like what?

-I'm going to get my eyebrows...streaked.

I thought they needed doing!

And I might alphabetise my socks.

-Without me?

-HE CHUCKLES

SHE GROANS

They need the bed. How was I supposed to argue with that?

It was worth a try.

I'm fine. I can walk to the car park.

-Don't be silly, Dad. Just get in.

-I don't want a fuss...

-Come on.

-HE GROANS

-Steady.

-Safe journey. Enjoy the party.

-Thank you.

Bye!

Oh, let me...

-Mr Jewell?

-My reputation precedes me!

-Are you all right?

-Hardly.

He broke his left thigh six weeks ago and needed surgery.

Then he fell badly on his right hip the night before last.

I was trying to restore my balance.

-You said you needed him in person. Well, here he is.

-Me?

No, no, I did not intend... I did not realise...

I thought we made it clear that he cannot register here.

Mr Hyde, please.

Oh, yes, sorry. Mr Hyde, can you go through?

-I am so sorry, Dr Clay.

-No problem.

What about my dad?

We're not leaving until this practice has signed him up.

What's going on? Your father, I presume?

-I suspect that Mr Jewell should be in hospital.

-You would think!

Anyone can see he should never have been discharged in this state.

The physios know what they're doing.

They have an excellent rehab gym at St Phil's. It's state of the art.

They wouldn't release him if he wasn't ready.

He wasn't eligible for the rehab ward.

You only get a place there if you're with a GP

who's a member of the local authority.

It took a lot of digging to find that out!

Like a terrier with a bone, she is.

Even a consultant didn't understand why her repeated requests

to transfer him to rehab kept getting turned down.

-Right.

-Patients with a GP outside Letherbridge stay in critical care

then they're discharged as soon as they can stand.

Well, that doesn't make sense. The rehab ward is much cheaper!

And it's half empty. Everyone agrees it makes no sense

but no-one can do anything about it.

So, Dad fell and hurt his hip

within a couple of days of being discharged.

I can look after him for some of the time when he's at home

but he's not going to make a full recovery

unless he gets on that ward.

Well, you are entitled to complain

if a discharge was too early and the condition came back.

It's a new fall and a new injury,

it doesn't count as a relapse.

It's disgraceful. After all he's done for this country!

Dad left school at 14 and worked well into his 70s.

Loads of them did.

His generation have paid

more tax and national insurance than any of us.

-His money supported this country.

-That explains the recession.

Look, I've spent the whole morning trekking round.

Some said there's no space, others say Dad would require

more attention than they can provide, given the distance.

Some of these practices are more suitable than The Mill.

Look here.

I think you should try these again.

I'll back you up with a letter.

Come on, love. This is pointless.

CRASHING, HE GROANS

Oh, God! Oh...

Can we get a doctor in here?!

Oh, Dad! I'm sorry!

I tried!

Stay where you are.

Try not to move.

Where does it hurt exactly?

My hip.

Call an ambulance.

SHE SOBS

Yes...

Thank you.

The ambulance is on its way!

That poor man.

This is all my fault.

Right, come on, get your coat.

Come on.

It's wrong. It's so wrong.

Back in the last hospital,

they dump old people in the geriatric ward. No physio, no OT.

Stuck in hospital beds with their muscles wasting away.

He'll be looked after at St Phil's, at least.

For a day or two, till they chuck him out again.

I don't want to be a burden.

I don't need to be registered in Letherbridge

for longer than he needs on the rehab ward.

But I do think he deserves the service

he's worked for all his life.

There's a whole generation in danger of being forgotten.

Your father won't be forgotten.

He'll be registered with a GP in Letherbridge

before he's due for discharge. You have my word.

GENTEEL CONVERSATION IN BACKGROUND

Look, I know this thing with Josh really made you question yourself.

There is no question in my mind, Dr Clay.

Or in anyone else's, I am certain.

That's not true. People really respect you.

I exposed that young woman to great danger.

He lied to her, and to the vicar.

-You have every right to be angry with him.

-I am.

I was.

We all make mistakes, OK?

You can't let it crush your confidence.

Perhaps mine needed to be crushed.

What do you think of those new hybrids?

-What, car?

-Yeah. I was thinking of getting a new one.

Really?

Your timing is interesting.

We are on the cusp of a new era.

Well, many innovations have not been tried and tested.

It would be prudent to be fully informed before proceeding.

So, what do you reckon?

What?

Oh, really?

Well, thank you, Dr Clay.

It would be a privilege to be your advisor on such a matter.

I'm not... I'm just thinking, it was an idea.

I'm not sure when I'm going to be buying it.

There are a number of sporty cars, exploring the hybrid option.

But, sadly, to date these are mostly pre-prototypes.

There are not many cars that I would wholeheartedly recommend.

For now, it is safer to stay a petrol-head.

That is just my humble opinion.

Go on, Brian.

You're easily the closest in the Letherbridge authority.

Yes, yes, I know that, but...

I don't want to have to tell you how to run your own business but...

Full? I'm surprised you have any patients at all

if you talk to people like that.

Hello? Oh, really? Well, I think you should change your website.

Because it still says here you're a warm and friendly practice,

putting patients at the heart of all you do!

Yeah...

HE CHUCKLES

You have no remit to?

The NHS Charter expressly states...

Might I remind you that you are talking to

a former chair of the Letherbridge PCT?

Well, that was uncalled for.

Any news?

Oh, yes.

No breaks, just bruising. They're keeping him in overnight.

-That's big of them(!)

-What's wrong with these people?

Why can't they bend their petty rules?

I don't know. Why can't YOU bend YOUR petty rules?

Because we're furthest away.

That rural constituency is completely the other side of town.

Oh, spoil your map, would it?

One lonely solitary, little pin, all by itself.

It's about stewardship of resources.

-We have responsibilities, we're accountable.

-For what, exactly?

Yes. Why don't we?

No. Seriously?

Well, what a change is here!

You're really going to trample your hallowed protocols underfoot?

I never thought I'd see the day! I've got to get a load of this.

Thank you, Alastair. Your presence will not be required.

You? I'm hearing this from YOU?

What are we, a bank? Only willing to lend to people who don't need it?

What ever happened to values like compassion and service

over bureaucracy and bean counting?

We're the doctors. Every time we come to you with our hearts on our sleeves,

you just stamp it "denied" and double-shred it.

Emotive imagery, but I get your point.

What about that patient of Daniel's?

The diabetic woman with Alzheimer's.

Mandy wanted to make two visits a day while the daughter was in New York,

so she wouldn't need to go into respite care.

-All right, we'll take a look at Mandy's schedule.

-Oh?

And what about Daniel's patient? The little boy, Sam Hill.

With the new treatment, and all the training,

-expensive new equipment, and...

-All right, I get your point!

I suppose there are a few cases, on balance,

which we could possibly re-visit. So, do we have a deal?

What you are asking is huge.

Old people are high-maintenance. Harsh, but true.

If he needs more home visits,

you can't pretend that's not going to have an impact.

The patient has already suggested

that the registration will be temporary.

There's nothing wrong with the care he's receiving

from his current practice. It's the politics which are preventing him

from getting the best possible care the NHS has to offer.

I suppose he does only need to be registered to a Letherbridge GP

for a couple of months, while he's in hospital.

We can make this work.

Well, then, you have a deal.

HE HUMS TO HIMSELF

Good grief!

You mad woman!

SHUTTER CLICK

HE CHUCKLES

HE SIGHS

RINGING TONE

Hi, Reg. How's it going?

-I think I've made some progress.

-Good.

I went through the depression check list that I go through with patients -

difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, low thoughts and so on.

And, in truth, I think I may have experienced some of them.

And now may be a good time to talk to my GP about medication.

-You mean anti-depressants?

-Yes, they can be very helpful.

Well, leaving aside medication just for now...

Well, I've accepted the diagnosis,

so the next step is treatment?

Yes, and treatment comes in many different forms.

Oh, you want me to talk some more(!)

It's what I'm here for.

So, you feel you've earned your money?

I'm sure I could talk for 50 minutes without hesitation,

repetition or deviation.

Humour me.

Good evening!

I hope we are all refreshed?

I've been preparing my research, Dr Clay.

Although Mr Bellamy has asked my opinion on this system here.

Naturally, I have to attend to that first.

But, after that, I'm all yours.

-I might have told her I was buying a car...

-What?

-I was trying to bring her out of herself.

-Out of herself,

and into your face!

You're a very sweet man, Jimmi.

# Born to be wild... #

You are SO going to regret this.

SHE GIGGLES

I don't know whether I was suckled at the breast

or fobbed off with some synthetic mother-substitute.

Maybe that's the root to all my problems?

-Do you always make a joke of a serious situation?

-Who's joking?

Psychoanalysis goes beyond our attitude to our parents, believe it or not.

Let's skip forward, past infancy.

How far?

To when you were a young man.

A new husband. New father.

Well, of course, you'd know all about that.

All the joys,

and ultimately, the sorrows.

Very sad, how things turned out for you.

Psychotherapist, heal thyself.

I'm thinking back to when Stephen was born.

What would that Heston have been like, if I had met him?

Sorted.

Once we've done the paperwork.

We'll need signed confirmation from your practice, too.

You can have it in triplicate, with bells on.

You're taking him at The Mill?

Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses...

-I've only got one old bloke with a dodgy hip.

-That'll do.

Well!

Excellent news.

How's it going?

Oh, you know. Mustn't grumble.

Well, maybe sometimes you should.

I've got Nessa for that. My mother hen.

Thanks a bunch, Dad. Good job someone's on your case.

Certainly is. Right,

let's get you signed up to The Mill,

then they'll transfer you to rehab tomorrow.

-Never leave a dozy old git behind?

-Something like that.

Thanks, Mr Bellamy.

Really, thank you so much.

Howard.

And it's an absolute pleasure.

-HE SIGHS

-Are you two going to help out?

It feels like feeding time at the zoo.

I don't think that's appropriate.

"Former officer steals food from mouth of injured pensioner?"

"Practice manager misuses NHS resources."

We won't tell.

So when did you serve?

I was a whipper-snapper.

Hitler died just a bit after my 18th birthday.

Dad had only been called up a few weeks and the war was over.

Though I don't feel I can take total credit for that.

Don't tell me, there was half a dozen of you?

ALL CHUCKLE

It wasn't just the obvious betrayal.

My wife going off with someone else, but...

..everything I thought I knew...

..never existed.

She took away me.

No-one wants their marriage to come crashing down.

But when you make that choice, that commitment...

..you open yourself to that possibility.

The people you love, they might even die.

When you love someone,

you take a risk.

And when she told me...

..that Stephen wasn't mine...

..that I wasn't his father...

..who was I?

Why am I talking about this?

HE CLEARS THROAT

Tell me about the day he left.

He was...

..eating a banana and he...

..he had sticky fingers.

He called me "Daddy".

"They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

"Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

"They were staunch to the end, against odds uncounted.

"They fell with their faces to the foe."

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.

"Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

"At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

"we will remember them."

ALL: We will remember them.

APPLAUSE

Every relationship since has failed.

Lily, Marina.

They walked all over me.

I was the common denominator.

Realising that might empower you.

Perhaps.

I don't know where all this came from. I thought I'd got over it.

Perhaps you had, enough to be able to cope.

I thought I was doing perfectly well.

Till now, at least.

Heston, these things go right to our core.

They can't be forced.

Sometimes we need to wait for the way in,

before we can deal with them.

I've nothing against anti-depressants.

Medication may well help you through this process.

But these talking sessions are vital.

I know.

I think you've been suffering from an unacknowledged depression,

and out of that has sprung the psychosis,

showing itself in the sleep-walking and amnesiac episodes.

It's very common.

In men, just as much as women.

You must have told your patients that.

I'm not sure I ever believed it.

Well, believe it now.

Often, it's the strongest, most masculine men that fall the hardest.

But you can get you through this.

I can help you through this.

YOU can help you through this.

Trust me,

in time, these feelings will lift.

Well, why don't we head out to West Letherbridge

I would've thought that's a bit too leafy and sedate for your tastes.

Seeing as you're such a party girl,

you could choose what we do tonight.

I found this. I'm guessing it's not washing powder.

Is this coke?

HE GROANS

Did I do something awful in a previous life?