Interpretations Doctors

Stupid boot.

I'll just have to take them in.

Fireworks? Indoors?

Isn't that a little bit dangerous?

Mrs Tembe handed you the Health and Safety brief, then?

As it happens, I've got a meeting with her in a bit.

What? With the Tembe Tower of Power? What you been up to?

Nothing, expect it's just a chat, motivating the troops,

as Howard would say.

Well, would have said. If he was...

KNOCKING

Er, come in.

You wanted to see me?

Ah, Doctor Donoghue. Ah, please... take a seat.

So...?

I, well, we all had the utmost respect for Mr Bellamy.

And, since taking on this temporary role, my regard for him

has only increased.

I'm sure.

But, maybe, perhaps,

he should have shared the burden

of responsibility a little more.

He wasn't one for delegation.

No.

But, I believe, as Nelson Mandela said, "It is

"better to lead from behind and put others in front."

So, you want to lead from behind?

I am looking to empower others.

That is why I would like you to

be our liaison between the Patient Participation Group.

OK.

It is a sensitive and highly responsible position.

But I truly believe you are the right person for the role.

Right, well...

Do you think that this something you would be interested in doing?

Yes.

Have any got any questions or concerns?

No, thank you for the opportunity.

I will do my best to make it work.

I have no doubt that you will.

SPEAKS PASHTO

Is she all right?

Thanks, we're going to the doctor's anyway.

SPEAKS PASHTO

Antibiotics?

I am sure you are aware of the move across the medical profession,

to discourage the easy prescription of medication,

in general.

Dr Vere,

I would like you to take the lead in lessening

our prescription of antibiotics, this winter.

Me? Lead? Wow.

I am sure you are going to need time to consider...

No, no, I'm well up for it!

Well you can have time to think.

No, I'm good for it, really!

Well, I am pleased.

I'll get on it, straightaway.

Splendid.

I won't let you down.

Indeed, you won't.

Emma!

Aasima. How are you doing?

I'm OK. Thank you for your card.

I instantly wished I'd written more, or even known what to say.

What you said was very kind,

and very much appreciated.

Well, I always suspected Howard was gentle...

underneath that bluff exterior.

Not that you would have guessed it, the way he took on

that university finance committee.

You're not going into work?

I'm going a bit stir crazy at home,

so I'm just going to go in and do some admin.

What about you? Are you teaching today?

I've got court translation, this afternoon,

but, yeah, I'm squeezing in a lesson this morning.

Russian or Polish? Urdu.

It's not often I get to lecture in my own language.

It's the poetry of Parveen Shakir.

She's a wonderful poet - tragic, died far too young...

Sorry.

I've always marvelled at your ability for languages,

I mean, I struggle just with French.

Well, you guys do a real job,

saving lives.

I've done it again, I'm so sorry.

It's fine, really.

We really must have a coffee soon, yeah?

I'd really like that.

I'll call you. Do.

Take care.

See you. Bye.

You know, if I ever need to sell sand in the Sahara,

Mrs Tembe would get my vote. How'd you mean?

The PPG liaison role is something Howard's been trying to dump

on some poor sucker's shoulders for a very long time.

The Patient Participation Group is a very influential body.

Really? How? Well, under Ashley's chairmanship,

they have secured some very notable policies.

For example, blanket-testing for verrucas...

Amended by doctors to blanket-testing for verrucas among children.

As if verrucas discriminate.

Then there were the assessments for hard and difficult ear wax...

Wax isn't referred to as "hard" or "difficult" and the GPs had to

limit their assessments to elderly patients at risk of dementia.

I can see how I might be of help. How?

Well, this is a microcosm of patient-staff misunderstanding.

Indeed, and I think you are just the woman to help Ashley refashion

the rifts of miscommunication.

Thank you.

Also, you know,

I might get some GPs to understand their patients better.

Yep, always good when the tail wags the dog.

So, Mehak was diagnosed with TB...

Yes.

It was notified and then treatment with antibiotics

then commenced.

So, how long has she been experiencing these symptoms?

SPEAKS PASHTO

About three months.

It, well, yeah... It might be to do with the antibiotics.

Are they the wrong sort? No, no, I doubt it,

the treatment's co-ordinated by the local TB team.

But there is the possibility that they may have been

over-prescribed, or that there's some kind of reaction, with Mehak.

THEY CONVERSE IN PASHTO

I'll have a chat with one of the nurses from the team and then

if you make another appointment, we should have some other options.

But, in the meantime,

I have prescribed you something for the nausea.

And that's it? Yes. Thank you. You're welcome.

SPEAKS PASHTO

I'm sorry, I...

Mehak?

These cupboards are an absolute disgrace.

We need to...what?

Nothing is where it's supposed to be.

What in heaven...!?

Right, so that's an appointment for Mehak at 10:30 on Thursday.

Thank you.

All right?

SPEAKS PASHTO

Did you see that? What? That lady, was trying to say something to me

and the guy just shut her down.

They were just with me. Mehak - the wife - she's got TB.

Mind you, with the symptoms she's displaying, I think the antibiotics...

Sid, you're not supposed to blather people's conditions, even to me.

Yeah, sorry... What was you going to say about them?

It was probably nothing.

Oh, could you make a note, of all the patients you've got

who are on prescription antibiotics?

What's with this sudden obsession with antibiotics?

That's what the meeting with Mrs Tembe was about.

She's asked me to help reduce the prescription of antibiotics this winter. And you said yes?

Of course. Aww!

If you want any input from the Patient Participation Group,

Mrs Tembe has now made Doctor Donoghue the point of liaison.

SHOUTING IN PASHTO

THEY ARGUE IN PASHTO

Let her go. It's none of your business!

Let her go, or I will call the police!

My wife, she's not well.

Even more reason to leave her alone.

SHE SPEAKS PASHTO

All right, come on, I think we should go inside. It's all right, come on.

Where, may I ask, have you been?

I'm allowed to go for a wee, occasionally.

And if you don't mind, THOSE are private property.

They are a serious health and safety issue.

They're just fireworks.

By their very definition, they are designed to explode!

Only if you light them.

Or they overheat, or they are unstable or some foolish person

does not secure them.

Oh, keep your wig on, Mrs T, it's not like I've got them

next to a Bunsen burner.

I'm sorry, they should be destroyed.

No way, they cost me 20 quid!

What? Where from?

Never mind where they're from, I'm not destroying them!

Then in that case, I suggest you take them to a place of safety!

Mehak did say something to me and she tried to speak to the nurse.

Do you know what it was?

Could it have been something medical?

Could you ask her, please?

THEY CONVERSE IN PASHTO

She says it's the dizziness, again.

And sickness.

Is that really what she said? Are you calling me a liar?

No, Haridas, it's just...it is a bit difficult,

normally we see patients on their own.

I'm her husband. Yes, that includes husbands.

She doesn't speak any English. You saw us together before.

We got married a year ago, she's from my family's village,

she's found learning English very hard.

What language is it that you speak? Pashto.

When she was diagnosed with the TB, did you have an interpreter present?

They had one on the phone.

Were you there?

I was working.

Right. Doctor Vere, if I could have a word, please?

Excuse us.

PHONE RINGS

Hello?

Yeah, thanks for calling me back.

Yeah, I just need to get back to my desk.

All right, OK, well thank you for trying.

Bye-bye.

The Interpreting Service are having trouble

finding someone who speaks Pashto.

Haridas might be telling the truth.

Really?

The trouble is that Mehak has the right to have

an interpreter present.

I think I might know someone who can help.

Hang on.

Hi, Aasima...

Remember, remember, the fifth of November,

third degree burns and tears.

That doesn't rhyme.

Fireworks Night is an outdated, arcane and partisan celebration

and I propose that it gets banned.

You're such a killjoy! I love joy.

It's just that I fear it, when it's placed in close

proximity to explosions.

Really, it's not like it's TNT.

It's exactly like TNT!

Most fireworks are a combination of potassium nitrate,

sulphur and charcoal in a 75:15:10 ratio, to be precise.

You ignite that and it's going to tend to make a really big bang.

Bore off. I think you're missing the point.

Didn't you ever have fireworks as a kid? Yeah, course I did.

So, why shouldn't they have them now?

They CAN have them.

They just have to go to a proper display,

one with health and safety protocols in place.

Yeah, but you've got to admit, with all the health and safety, it does kill the magic a bit.

That's a compromise I'm willing to make.

Oh, you are such a fogey! And fogeys are often right, so thank you.

No, you're not. I am right. Uh-uh!

Um... I'm looking for Emma,

um, Doctor Reid.

Do you have an appointment?

Not a medical kind.

Aasima Nicolescu.

Dr Heston Carter.

My name's a lot more prosaic than yours.

Well, my husband's Romanian and I was born in Karachi.

And, thankfully for us, a linguistic genius.

Russian, Polish, Urdu...and luckily, Pashto.

Hardly, look, I get by in Pashto. Very impressive.

I grew up in a multilingual city. Karachi?

Birmingham.

Been here since I was seven.

Come on, I'll show you through.

Come on!

PHONE RINGS

Valerie, I'm at the back door, can it not wait?

What? I've already talked to her about her bunions(!)

I'm not...

Fine, just don't get Tembe involved.

All right - I'm coming back in.

SPEAKS PASHTO

It's been three months since her last period.

And she thinks, she's pretty sure she's pregnant.

OK, have you done a test?

IN PASHTO

Well, we have them here if you'd like to do one.

Mehak says that her husband became angry,

when she told him she thought she might be pregnant.

Why?

Look, forgive my ignorance, Aasima, but could that be a cultural thing?

I don't see why, you know, they're newly married,

a new baby on the way.

I would have thought it'd be a cause for celebration. Yeah.

I think the best thing is if she does a test and then,

well - we'll know one way or the other.

THEY SPEAK IN PASHTO

She's saying if I could go with her?

Of course, yes, absolutely and the instructions are in English, so...

OK, ladies, it's just down there and to the right.

Thanks.

What's happening?

Mehak's doing a pregnancy test. OK...

She thought she might be pregnant.

And when she told Haridas, that's when he attacked her.

He says he didn't.

I saw it.

You saw Haridas assaulting Mehak?

No, I didn't see him assault her.

But you didn't see him hit her?

All right, no.

And anyway, why would he be so angry if she was pregnant? I don't know.

When I told Aasima, she thought the news would be welcome.

Financial? They've not been married long.

No, that's not the reason.

The family own a big business in Birmingham.

OK, so if it's not that?

I have no idea.

But what I do know is if that pregnancy test is positive,

things are going to get a whole lot worse.

Oh, and here's just the doctor.

Mrs Poyner was saying she thought it would be a good idea,

if we had a colour-coded triage system.

Right, well, that's something to consider.

As I say, Doctor Donoghue just radiates positivity.

Radiating positivity keeping you busy?

Along with being a GP. And Valerie being OTT.

Not as much as last night.

That's as OTT, as I want to see her.

So, you doing anything tomorrow night?

I was thinking of going for a swim. I haven't been for ages.

Well, I was just asking cos it's Bonfire Night.

It's the 5th? I completely forgot. What are you up to?

I was thinking of doing some fireworks for Sierra.

That's lovely.

Yeah, it was, but... What? I don't know.

Al just keeps banging on about all the health and safety stuff

and the injuries.

Well, he's not wrong. You know, in Ireland, fireworks are only

allowed in organised public displays.

I'd never put Sierra in harm's way. I just wanted to do something fun.

Yeah, I know.

The pregnancy test is positive.

SPEAKS PASHTO

Haridas, please calm down.

Calm down(!) My wife's pregnant by someone else!

Please.

Haridas explained to me

that Mehak's been on the contraceptive pill.

It's not 100% guaranteed.

And they've been using condoms, every time.

So how could it happen? How pregnant is she?

Three, four months? That's when she went back home.

SHE SPEAKS PASHTO

Mehak says that she has only ever been married to one man, Haridas.

And he has done everything he can to stop her having a baby.

SHE SPEAKS PASHTO

She says that Haridas has a secret, something he's not

telling her.

KNOCKING Come in.

I wasn't criticising earlier. I know.

It's just...I am capable of supervising a few fireworks.

I know. It's a personal thing. I prefer organised displays.

Anything else makes me nervous.

I've just had this exact same conversation with Al.

I mean, where's the magic in that? Being stood in some stand at

Letherbridge United, while someone else presses buttons? Oh, no,

fireworks are magical however they're done.

Think of the Fellowship of the Ring

when Gandalf puts on a show for the people of the Shire.

Yeah, let's compare it with people with big feet and hairy toes.

No, but as a spectacle of wonder, you know,

people of the Shire, so happy with their little red cheeks

and curly hair, and Bilbo Baggins blowing smoke-rings of pure joy.

Need to see that film again.

I don't have a secret girlfriend!

Well, we all know, this happens.

Guys with girlfriends over here feel pressurised to marry

a girl from the village,

honour satisfied...

That's not me!

I love Mehak.

It was arranged, but when I first saw her...

..I thought I was lucky.

SPEAKS PASHTO

So, what is it, then, about not wanting to have a child?

Thalassaemia.

We have it in the family. My brother had it.

I watched him go through growth problems, deformities,

blood transfusions every fortnight.

But even a bone marrow transplant couldn't save him.

Alpha, or Beta Major?

Beta Major.

THEY SPEAK IN PASHTO

My sister's little boy was diagnosed with it, just before we got married.

I just thought, if we waited, a cure might come along,

like gene therapy or something...

I just couldn't bear us having a child and watch it suffer.

I'm going to be honest with you.

The chances of your child inheriting the disease are one-in-four.

BUT...

both you and Mehak would have to be carriers

and we don't know that she is.

THEY CONVERSE IN PASHTO

Mehak doesn't know of any hereditary diseases in her family.

If she wants, we can do a blood test here.

I should have told her.

SHE SPEAKS PASHTO

I shouldn't have doubted my wife. I'm ashamed.

HE SPEAKS PASHTO

But I don't understand, with the condoms...

Did any break?

Maybe once.

And Mehak was on antibiotics, for the TB.

They can reduce the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill.

The TB team should have told you.

What are the chances?

SHE SPEAKS PASHTO

Maybe it was destined to happen.

And we'll have a beautiful baby.

Yes, and we'll cope with whatever happens.

And we're here to help, in whatever way we can.

Oh, Aasima, it's such a shame you can't stay for lunch.

Well, don't think the judge will be too impressed if I turn up late.

What's the case? Something juicy? Uh-uh!

No, of course, you can't say.

I hear your skills were very useful to us today?

Couldn't have done without her. I was glad to be of help.

We should put you on the list, Mrs Tembe?

Well, if Mrs Nicolescu is accredited.

And some!

Well, sometimes the interpreting service, they do not have

all the languages.

And you're so close.

If you wouldn't mind.

Yeah, why not? Great.

I really should be going.

I'm sorry, let me see you out.

Actually, Doctor Carter, I have some good news.

Perhaps it can wait after lunch.

Why? Will it spoil my carbonara?

Well, the Hospital Trust have given their assent for Sister Hanif to

establish her midwifery role here.

And, er... Well, she starts tomorrow.

I think today was a prime example of why we have to scrutinise

the prescription of antibiotics.

Yeah, we were wondering who'd been offered that particular role.

Someone who didn't mind the size of the task.

No, I wasn't suggesting that I...

Yeah, you've been well and truly kippered, mate. Tembe Toast.

Sounds like she has somewhat gilded your lily.

I need a sandwich.

Straight or toasted?

So, Nurse Lee,

have you stored those dangerous items somewhere safe?

If you're talking about the fireworks, then, yes. Good.

Where?

On the back patio.

Where Dr Haskey has a smoke?

FIREWORKS EXPLODING Oh, my goodness!

I said to you to dispose of them properly!

Er, Al..?

Potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulphur, when ignited,

will tend to make a really BIG bang!

FIREWORKS EXPLODE

About this PPG meeting.

I have found Mr Bellamy's research.

Yes, I know it's a big day. I'm a big girl.

She's a mum, she's a midwife, she's not a grubby monster.

So don't build her into one.

Howard's passing has presented the PPG with an opportunity

it's been denied.

As long as we all know who's a serf and who's the major-domo.

..could be the best record you've ever heard.

This is BBC Radio 6 Music,

MUSIC: Lust For Life by Iggy Pop