No Matter Where You Go, There You Are - Part One Holby City

-You didn't kill her.

-I didn't save her either.

-You taught me this. Remember?

You said it would make me a better surgeon.

-What happened with Lola?

-She didn't want to go to hospital,

so I called you and you called Mr Griffin, then he fixed everything.

-So, you and Fletch! Anything going on there?

-No!

I feel compelled to suspend this case, in consideration of criminal

charges relating to gross negligence. Manslaughter.

-VOICE-OVER:

-At 9am, on the 2nd of October 2017, Elaine Elisabeth Warren was admitted

to the Acute Admissions Unit at Holby City Hospital.

What's her BP?

Ms Warren had been referred complaining of severe pain

and numbness in her right leg.

Symptoms consistent of Ms Warren's medical history of Type 2 diabetes.

Hello. Thanks.

Hiya, so... Elaine Warren.

And while Ms Warren's condition was serious,

it was in no way life-threatening.

Ms Warren was in the best possible place

to receive the best possible care.

She did not receive it.

Now, this trial is about a man, an expert in his field.

who failed his duty of care.

A Consultant Surgeon and Clinical Lead whose poor leadership,

lack of communication and arrogance,

contributed to a series of basic errors.

A man who was distracted, angry, out of his depth.

And whose absence from his ward

was to have catastrophic consequences.

On the 3rd of October at 2:15am

Elaine Warren died as a result of complications from sepsis.

Undiagnosed,

untreated

until too late.

We will show that Elaine Warren's death

was not only entirely avoidable,

but that it was criminal.

The result of a series of mistakes and missed opportunities,

by the defendant, Mr Eric Griffin, that amount to gross negligence.

That amount to manslaughter.

Still doing that stupid trick?

Master this and you can be a great surgeon. You taught me that.

What's your secret - skipping into work, good as new?

My injuries were less serious than yours, Ollie. That's all.

-BEEPER

-No miracle. Just dumb luck.

Serena. I have to go.

SHE GRUNTS Not quite "good as new", then?

Don't run before you can walk, Valentine.

-What are you doing?

-Walking.

-You're a stubborn fool.

-Takes one to know one.

-What are you trying to prove?

-I'm ready.

-To do what?

-To go home.

I want to be discharged.

Today.

Bold strategy, Valentine. Let's see if it pays off for you.

Thought you were supposed to be at the trial?

-Here.

-What's this?

Month's holiday. Signed off.

I didn't ask for any holiday.

That's the problem. You've accrued too much.

HR is insistent. Use it or lose it. I suggest the former.

-Ah. Bon voyage.

-A month? What would I do with myself?

Sit on a beach? Read a book?

Plot the violent downfall of all your enemies, real and imagined?

Pretend to have fun. You might actually have some by accident.

-I have to go.

-How's he holding up?

You know Ric...

He's...angry.

-About what?

-Everything.

No-one knows what really happened that day...

That's what the trial is for, isn't it? To find out what really happened.

If it pleases M'Lady, the prosecution calls Donna Jackson...

Ms Jackson.

You were the ward nurse on duty.

Can you tell the court what it was like that morning?

Busy. By 8:30am occupancy was at 93%,

with an unusually high quota of Hasselhoffs.

It was like there was a full moon, right?

Your mother-in-law will be so proud.

Can we get some bolt-cutters, please?

OK, everyone, listen up.

45 minutes ago, St Francis declared Black Alert and closed its doors.

25 minutes ago, there was a four-way pile-up on the motorway.

MAJAX could be called any minute.

Expect delays on labs, and Radiology. And all non-urgent cases to be sent home.

OK, you know what to do.

This is AAU. We're swamped down here.

Any chance of someone getting me some agency bods? Thanks.

Hello. Elaine Warren, is it?

Listen, we are a little bit mad in here today, but don't worry.

We're going to take good care of you. OK?

Have you got a minute? I've got a Type 2 diabetic with pain in her lower right leg.

-You all right?

-Donna, I'm...

-PHONE RINGS

Yes?

Understood.

The Trust have activated the Major Incident Plan.

-Was expecting that...

-What the hell is Hanssen thinking?

We cannot cope with this. Not here. Not today.

Let's look at this diabetic of yours.

'A major incident is declared when the number of admissions requires

'implementation of a plan designed to ensure

'that all the emergencies can be treated.'

Non-urgent cases are sent home. Staff and resources are redeployed

where needed, but there's never enough.

It's like plugging holes in a dyke with your fingers.

Mr Richardson to day care and Mrs Clarke to be sent home.

Yes, yes. OK, thank you very much, bye-bye.

Oh, sorry. Didn't see you there!

-I was just on a training course and...

-She smells of alcohol.

Your diabetic. Elaine Warren.

-She's been drinking.

-I noticed.

Doppler shows a very low pulse in the lower right leg.

Could be ischemic. Need a CT angiogram to be sure...

Ah! Thank goodness.

The cavalry's arrived. I take it that Mr Di Lucca is on his way?

Raf's not coming and I'm not staying, either I'm afraid.

We've both being seconded to the ED.

-On whose orders?

-Who do you think?

Yes, I understand your concerns, but there is really nothing I can do.

-We are the designated primary...

-We don't have the staff!

We don't even have the proper equipment or the expertise!

The hospital has had to make difficult choices recently.

We don't have to be the primary designation for this MAJAX.

We are stretched to breaking point.

-I know. I'm sorry.

-'Is it unusual for the Clinical Lead to question

'the CEO's decision so publicly?'

Er... He was worried about patient safety.

And yet, he left his ward and his patients when he should have been

carrying out a Major Incident Plan.

It's all a bit chaotic, don't you think?

I wouldn't describe it as that, no. It was just...

..a difficult day.

Any more or less difficult than similar major incidents

that you've dealt with?

-Not for me, no.

-Not for you.

Now, you've worked with Mr Griffin on several major incidents.

Has he ever left the ward to question the CEO's decision before?

Not to my knowledge. No.

-You seen Fletch?

-Yes.

-Why?

-There are literally thousands of reasons I could be wanting to

-know where Fletch is.

-Yes.

But what is the actual reason?

Why are you so interested?

You have an...aura about you. Excitement...

-Happiness, perhaps.

-He did Emma a favour and I wanted to say

-thank you. Why am I having this conversation with you?

-Bantz...

What's that?

Nothing I'm interested in.

-Where's Fletch?

-There.

HE CHUCKLES

-Jacky!

-Oh, no...

-So good to see you!

-Please make it stop.

Same old Jacky!

I'll organise a bed.

Buns so tight you could eat marmalade off them.

Er... What are you doing here?

-Surgery's not for months.

-I've had a setback.

After you diagnosed the HCM, I took some time off to chillax. Have some me time.

All was fine until last week, when I had several fainting spells.

So they booked me in here.

What exactly did you do during this me time?

Bit of this, bit of that.

Your median blood pressure is running at 140/90.

That's a 30% spike in six weeks.

And your blood sugar levels are all over the place.

-Are you pregnant?

-What?! No!

What makes you say that?

You've put on a stone. That's a lot of kale smoothies.

I haven't been exercising as much as I used to.

Any...type of exercise.

OK. We'll run some tests.

Can I get a chest CT?

-How is Becky doing?

-Frisky. Surprised your ears weren't burning.

You have buns to die for, apparently.

Well, I have been working out. Nice that somebody noticed.

Frieda says you want me?

I don't want you.

To talk.

Oh, yeah. That. Erm...

Kid Karate, Emma was accepted, so your letter was great.

Fantastic! She must be over the moon.

-She is. Thank you.

-Well, it was more Evie than it was me, so...

Still, it was bizarrely important to her, so thank you again.

Well, to celebrate, do you fancy a drink?

-Yeah, OK.

-All right.

-Great.

-I'll pick you up after shift.

-What?

-I don't know what's more surprising -

that Fletch asked you out on a date, or that you actually said yes.

Date? I don't know what you're talking about.

A trial period in which two people consider taking their relationship

to a more permanent, sometimes intimate...

That is not what just happened. It's not a date.

I don't date. And definitely not Fletch.

You keep telling yourself that.

By 10:45am, Elaine Warren's condition had worsened.

-Is that correct?

-She had complained of feeling unwell, yes.

These are your notes from that day.

"Patient clammy; temperature 38.2, heart rate 110. Appears drowsy."

What treatment was given for these symptoms?

Er... Fluids, oxygen,

vitamins and glucose.

Blood tests had come back showing Ms Warren's blood alcohol count

-was 18.

-So it was assumed she was hungover?

It was known that she was intoxicated.

-And that explained those symptoms?

-Some. Not all.

What else could explain those symptoms?

Any number of things.

Could sepsis explain them?

Ms Jackson? Could sepsis explain those symptoms?

Yes, but without a CT angiogram there was no way to know that it was

that serious. And by then, things were delayed.

Priority were given to MAJAX casualties.

Radiology has had to bump all non-urgent scans.

-They're completely backed up.

-No, no, no. They do not decide who is urgent and who is not.

Um... Get on the phone and I'll speak to them myself.

OK.

Radiology, please.

Hi, it's AAU. Mr Griffin would like to speak to Ms Randall.

We're ALL busy. He's insisting.

That lady - she's asking after her son?

Next of kin details should be on the system.

Ms Randall?

One moment, please. Ric!

He's just coming.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Look, I'm going to have to pop out.

-Is there a problem?

-No.

It's...family stuff. Is there anything outstanding?

Just Ms Warren's angiogram.

-Hello, Jenny.

-It's Ric Griffin.

I've got a 60-year-old,

Type 2 diabetic with possible ischemia of the leg.

Yes, I understand that, but the Doppler showed very weak pulse.

I'm concerned that there might be a clot.

All the blood thinners in the world aren't going to tell me what cause of the ischemia is!

-Is it mad in there?

-Raf's just gone in with the last of the MAJAX

casualties, so it should start to calm down now.

-But we need more clotting factors and blood.

-I'll see what I can do. LOUD CRASH

I'm going to have to go out.

Can you keep an eye on Warren and page me if there's any change?

-What about her angiogram?

-Like I say, Radiology will try and fit her in this afternoon.

When was the next time you saw Mr Griffin?

It was approximately three hours later.

Did you know where he'd gone or why?

No.

And what was Elaine Warren's condition like at this time?

By 1:30pm Ms Warren's blood pressure had dropped to 90/60.

I paged Mr Griffin.

Did you get any response?

No. I later discovered later that his pager had been damaged and he

hadn't received it. When he returned to the ward at 3pm, I immediately informed him.

Elaine Warren's blood pressure is 90/60.

But by then it was too late, wasn't it?

A bit leading don't you think, M'Lady?

I beg your pardon. I'll rephrase.

Would it be fair to say that by the time you next saw Mr Griffin

back on the ward, Elaine Warren was already dying?

Yes.

Saline. Push fluids. Colloid and Hartmann's, stat.

The CT angiogram.

She's septic. The limb looks completely dead.

We're going to have to amputate.

-Let's get her to theatre now.

-Amputate?

It's everywhere. It's spread so quickly.

Ric?

Ms Jackson, one last question.

Are you familiar with the medication heparin?

It's a blood thinning agent.

In his statement to police, Mr Griffin claims he instructed you

to have a registrar write up a heparin prescription for Ms Warren.

Do you have any recollection of that?

The thing is, I now believe there was a mix-up...

Unfortunately, the court can't hear what you believe, Ms Jackson.

Mr Griffin repeatedly insisted

that he had instructed you to get a registrar to prescribe Ms Warren

the heparin that could have saved her life.

Do you have any recollection of that?

-No.

-Thank you, Ms Jackson.

No further questions.

-You disapprove.

-I think it's precipitous.

I'm getting stronger every day.

-I can look after myself.

-Prove it.

You make your way to the toilet and back, unaided,

no Zimmer frame, and I will personally sign your discharge form.

Easy peasy.

-Where are you going?

-The loo.

-You have stairs in your flat, right?

Yes.

Do you see any stairs between here and the Keller toilet?

No.

What toilets were you thinking of?

Darwin.

-Bad news?

-There are fatty changes in the liver.

Whatever is causing this is new. It's not related to your HCM.

-So now I have two serious conditions?

-We don't know that yet.

-We're going to do a TOE and work out exactly what's wrong with you.

-It's a date!

-Date?

-The TOE thingy.

Ms Naylor doesn't do dates.

Bit young to have taken yourself off the market aren't you, Jacky?

I'm a single mother with a great career, not a prize cow.

Speaking of prize beef... Oof!

You couldn't put a word for me, could you?

With Fletch. Be my wingman.

I've tried, but he just can't take a hint.

Unless you're interested?

-Don't be ridiculous.

-Cos you're off the market, right?

-That's right.

-Well, then?

Yeah, I'd be happy too, Becky.

-Amazeballs!

-Except he is spoken for.

-He is?

-He is?

Who is the lucky cow?

Yeah. Who is this "cow"?

Er...

He's met someone at the...martial arts class that Evie attends.

-Kid Karate!

-Oh. you know it?

My Bella got a place there last term.

That's great...

I'm needed on Keller but let's talk more about this lucky cow, yeah?

I'm going to arrange that TOE.

Jacky?

Are you in pain?

You're favouring your left side.

This usually indicates pain in the T10/T11 region.

Physiotherapist, remember?

It's just a twinge. I'll be fine.

Urgh!

Sit.

I can't. It's cheating. Something old Oliver would do.

Oliver 1.0.

You're not the old Oliver any more. Sit.

-How did you know?

-I've got my spies.

Come on, press the button.

-Did you ask me on a date?!

-Blimey, Jac! You scared the living...

I'm sorry. Did you ask me on a date?

-What?

-Earlier when you suggested a drink.

-Did you mean...?

-It was a date? No!

Ah... Right.

Just a drink.

OK. Great.

Between mates.

Yeah. Good. I'm glad we cleared that up.

Not unless you wanted a...?

-No! That would just be...

-Ridiculous.

-Hideous.

-Right...

-I'm really sorry about your coffee.

-Don't worry about the coffee...

PAGER BEEPS

HE CHUCKLES

It's Serena.

Donna's evidence hasn't gone down too well.

Well, she is a witness for the prosecution.

I should call Donna and see if she's OK.

-You all right?

-Yeah, fine.

-You don't look fine.

-Just leave it, Fletch.

OK.

Yeah, I'm just going back in now.

Thanks, Fletch. OK. Bye.

Amira?

You're a bit early, aren't you?

Defence's case isn't until this afternoon.

I'm not here for the Defence.

The prosecution calls Amira Zafar.

What's this, my locker?

Yeah, as far as I know, it hasn't been touched since the...

-I remembered.

-Or could be muscle memory.

Theatre tickets?! I don't remember liking theatre.

It's two tickets.

Maybe you were trying to impress a girl.

I don't remember a girl either.

Why have you brought me here?

You are discharging yourself, against Ms MacMillan's advice.

You want to start new life.

You've got to leave your old life behind.

This is your old life.

-I'll be back. Believe me.

-PAGER BEEPS

It's Jac. I have to go.

-Can you get yourself back to Keller?

-I'll manage.

I'll take you to the elevator.

Thank you.

Ms Zafar, can you tell us how you came to be on AAU that day?

I wasn't even supposed to be working that day.

I was supposed to be finishing a MIMS training module.

But then it all kicked off and I was sent to help out on AAU.

And what were your impressions when you arrived on the ward?

Chaos.

What are you doing, just standing there?!

Sorry. I was on a training course but they said...

-Just stand out of the way until someone can show you what to do.

-She stinks of alcohol.

Elaine Warren. Your diabetic.

They never learn. Doppler shows a very weak pulse, lower right leg.

Might be ischemic. Need to do a CT angiogram just to be sure.

-Well, about time! Where's Di Lucca?

-Raf's not coming and I'm not staying.

-We've both been seconded to ED.

-On whose orders?

-Whose do you think?

Hanssen!

And what were your impressions of Mr Griffin?

Formidable.

Angry. Frustrated.

Cold.

-Distracted?

-Distracted?

-In what way?

-Like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Excuse me, um...

Can we take a break?

-A break?

-I took some heart burn tablets for my nerves earlier

and they've gone through me like a dose of salts.

M'Lady?

All rise.

OK. You win.

You summoned me, O Dark Mistress.

Close the door before anyone sees.

Are you OK?

Do I look OK? I need another shot.

-Don't act dumb. The triamcinolone.

-No.

-What?!

-The last shot should have lasted you over a month.

The fact you're back where you started means you really need to

address the source of your pain and not the symptoms.

-Stop talking like a therapist.

-If you stop talking like a junkie.

Jac, it's time to talk to somebody...

-Just get out!

-It's time to talk to somebody about what you've been

going through. Fletch?

-You breathe one word of this to him and I'll ruin you.

-Oh, wow! You're being ridiculous.

With your petty threats and your fear of being vulnerable.

-What are you talking about?!

-You have to address your feelings

for Fletch or is going to get very messy.

All right, then, Freuda! How's this any different to you pining after Oliver?

You think I haven't noticed you hovering around him like some pathetic guardian angel?

He never loved you before. He's not going to start now.

It doesn't matter how much brain damage he suffers.

Oh... All right. You're on your own.

Good. That's just how I like it.

-I can explain.

-We're not supposed to talk.

How could you do this? You're supposed to be on our side.

-I am on your side.

-"Cold, frustrated and "distracted".

You're making us sound awful. It wasn't like that.

It was like that. For me.

I'm sorry.

Will all parties in the case of Griffin please return to Court One?

Aw! Good luck!

Look after yourself.

Right. Well, I guess this is it.

It's not like it's over between us.

I think you still have some stuff in your locker on Darwin? Would you like me to forward it on?

No, I'll be back to pick it up. As a surgeon. Sooner than you think. You'll see.

Going home?

-Yeah.

-You're either very brave, or very stupid.

Good luck.

You've described a ward in chaos.

What happened the next time you saw Mr Griffin?

By 11, things had calmed down.

I was mucking in as best I could.

OK, my love, I'll see what I can do.

-And there was this woman.

-We're all busy.

She was asking after her son.

That lady's asking if her son's been told she's here?

Warren? Well, check the patient history.

Ms Randall? One moment, please. Ric!

I might have to go. Family stuff.

-Is there anything outstanding?

-Only the diabetic's angiogram.

Hello. It's Ric Griffin here.

Look, I've got a 65-year-old,

Type 2 diabetic with possible ischemia of the leg.

I need a log in.

All the blood thinners in the world aren't going to tell me what's actually causing the ischemia!

Got it!

Radiology can't fit her in until this afternoon at the earliest.

So, we'll have to buy time. Get Raf to write up a script

for therapeutic heparin and administer it.

30-minute obs until I get back. OK?

Um... Are you...?

HUGE CRASH

I wondered if I should ask if he was speaking to me.

Clarify. But when I saw him with the ward nurse, I assumed that his

instructions had been passed on.

Like I say, Radiology will try and fit her in this afternoon.

And then, he was gone.

Is there a Dr Raf here?

Yeah, he's busy elsewhere. Why?

Nothing. I thought that I might have been asked to do something.

But I must have heard wrong.

But I didn't hear wrong. I realise that now.

Mr Griffin may have thought he was speaking to someone else.

Someone who...might have understood what he needed.

But I was the only one listening. And I didn't understand.

Maybe I should have asked.

But that day I kept my head down and my mouth shut.

And...that poor old woman died.

And I'm so sorry.

I'm sorry.

He thought he ordered those blood thinners.

He thought I understood...

Ms Zafar, is an agency nurse accountable for diagnosing

and setting up treatment plans for patients?

No, the consultant is, but...

And did you "understand" that Mr Griffin, the consultant in charge,

was ordering you to arrange a course of heparin for Ms Warren?

-Not at the time. No.

-Thank you, Ms Zafar.

No further questions.

If it pleases the court, I have an agreed statement from Jeremy Warren.

He is unable to attend due to ill health.

On the 2nd October 2017,

I received a message from a nurse at Holby City Hospital

telling me my mother, Elaine Warren, had been admitted with a sore leg.

It was not considered serious.

I never saw or spoke to my mother alive again.

I spent the next few weeks trying to make sense of what had happened.

Why there was a delay on recording a cause of death,

why a 65-year-old woman could die from "a sore leg".

But there was no explanation.

When I finally met the consultant in whose care my mother had been left,

he could not remember her name correctly.

Jeremy Warren.

M'Lady, that is the case for the prosecution.

All right?

Yeah, just looking for some prolene.

Up here I think.

Just had a really odd conversation with Becky.

She seemed to think I was seeing someone. Didn't say why.

Must be because I washed under my pits this morning!

Or maybe it's because you're fit and healthy and generous and honest.

OK... Who are you and what have you done with Jac Naylor's corpse?

I could say all the same things about you, you know?

Are you all right? Talk to me.

Serena's given me four weeks off. Apparently, I'm owed it.

Wow. Um...

What are you going to do?

Do you want to come away with me?

-What?

-Just get out of here. Go anywhere.

Throw a dart at a departure board and see where we end up.

It has its appeal.

-But...

-But?

There's things to consider.

-Cover. Money. The kids...

-PAGER BEEPS

I've... I've got to go.

So, when's the next contestant enter the stage?

-What?

-Gaskell's trial.

Firstly, it's Professor Gaskell to us.

And secondly, they're not contestants.

They're very ill people helping a great scientific endeavour.

-And thirdly?

-Thirdly?

The way you were speaking implied there was a third, definitive point.

Nope. No third point.

Hey... I've had a bit of an accident,

but I'd appreciate if you didn't tell Roxanna.

SOBBING

Hello?

Don't mind me.

Becky?

I think we've found the cause of the hypertension then.

I don't know what's wrong with me.

The defence calls Eric Griffin.

Do you remember the events of 2nd October, 2017?

I beg your pardon?

I asked if you remember the events of 2nd October, 2017?

I am unlikely ever to forget them.

Was there anything in particular that was different about that day?

Other than the death of one of my patients?

That was how it ended. Could you tell us about how it began?

I had had some troubling news from my daughter in Australia.

She'd written to say that she was reconciling with her ex-husband.

Are you crazy? He will kill you!

I forbid it, Jess! I absolutely forbid you to see this man again!

I will not allow it!

Please, Jess. Can we just talk about this?

Calmly, rationally.

Think of Jacob. Jess...

Please. Just call me.

I'm sorry for getting angry. Just call me...

MESSAGE ALERT

KNOCK AT DOOR

Have you got a minute?

I've got a Type 2 diabetic with pain in her lower right leg.

You all right?

I had tried to call her several times and I was expecting her to call back.

Well, I was hoping desperately that she would.

She's been drinking.

Yes, I was frustrated. I may have been angry.

Short-tempered with colleagues...

-On whose orders?

-Whose do you think?!

..and management.

Was I cold?

Was I distracted?

Family traumas happen. We all have them.

The professional pushes them to the back of the mind and gets on with

his job regardless of how he feels.

My phone did ring. But it wasn't Jess, my daughter.

It was a friend.

A good friend of mine who needed my help.

So I gave it, as friends do.

I tied up all my loose ends I thought I had and I left the ward.

If you like, yes, I took my eye off the ball.

And that's all there is to say about that.

You left the ward to help a friend?

-Yes.

-What did you do?

-Did you hurt her, Jason?

-This is my blood. She bit me.

I pushed her. She fell. Hurt her head.

I called Auntie Serena and she said you would help.

But now it's her tummy that hurts.

-Why didn't you take her straight to the ED?

-Lola will go to jail.

She can't go to jail.

I'll take a look. You stay here.

-Lola?

-Are you the doctor friend?

Yes. Jason said you hurt your head.

It's just a scratch. I tried to tell him that but he kept banging on about Elinor.

Things have escalated since then... Argh!

I can see...

Lola, is Jason aware that you're about to give birth?

He's autistic, he's not stupid.

-What are you doing?

-Doing what you and Jason should have done an hour ago.

-I'm going to call for assistance.

-You can't...

-Don't be ridiculous.

If you make that call, then I'll say it was Jason who did this.

Those bruises are days old. Who did do this to you?

Doesn't matter. What matters is no hospitals.

No authorities. Or Jason's prime suspect...

What is wrong with you?!

Everything.

Argh!

As I said, that's all there is to say about that.

-You've nothing to be afraid of.

-The wrong side of 30.

Single mum. A career built on the ability to sustain

peak physical fitness. I've got everything to be afraid of.

But I try and hide it.

Pretend.

And where better to hide but in that.

You wouldn't understand.

Maybe I do.

Maybe I just self-medicate differently.

I have a friend, Milos,

he specialises in scar tissue neuropathy.

Do you want me to call him?

You should have stayed in Physio.

You didn't finish. You went back to work too soon.

And it shows. You're in pain.

You must have been in pain for months.

Why?

I had to work.

I had to have purpose and pain was the price.

It was also a useful reminder never to let your guard down

because when that happens people get hurt.

And maybe it's your fault, so what's a little pain compared to that?

You can't tell anyone...

Becky?

Becky! Wake up!

Becky!

Come on. Wake up, please. I need some help here!

And some adenosine!

Becky?

-What's going on?

-She's in SVT.

Stay with me. Stay with me, come on!

Come on. Good, good. You scared us there for a minute.

-You're going to be fine. Get that TOE ASAP.

-Yeah.

Someone forgot to remind me about the hidden step between the bedroom and the en suite...

-Feel free to say "I told you so".

-Is there any point?

-Might make you feel good.

-Won't make you less obstinate.

-I've always been hard-headed.

-That, I'm aware of, it's the mushy bits inside I'm worried about.

-I slipped. It happens all the time.

-I just need to be more careful.

-You need to be more realistic!

You keep setting yourself impossible goals and then cheating when you can't meet them.

Yes, I know Ms Petrenko helped with your little promenade earlier.

Thank you, Dr Chowdhury. Nice work.

I'd have given anything to have seen you walk up those stairs to Darwin,

back to your old life, but I'm not John Gaskell.

I can't perform miracles. I'll get you out of here.

Get you home. Get you..."back".

But it takes time.

What happened to "you're on your own"?

-Appears we're inextricably linked.

-Like symbionts?

Like parasites.

You say potato. You see that?

Ventricular hypertrophy.

-Certainly is.

-What caused it?

Fried chicken. Becky's diet changed somewhat in the last six weeks.

Somewhat? Her aortic wall has thickened and she's exhibiting signs of atherosclerosis.

None of which will stop me from performing a myectomy.

We've had a cancellation, so I'll do it today.

I don't think that's a good idea.

Atherosclerosis doesn't affect risk factors of a myectomy.

I agree she needs surgery. I don't think you will be doing it.

You dropped this.

You need help. Go see Fletch.

Shove it, Petrenko!

I promised Becky I'd fix her and I mean to do so.

If you won't go see Fletch, I will.

Do that and you can kiss your training goodbye.

I fall - you fall.

We amputated Mrs Warren's leg, but the sepsis was too widespread.

There was nothing that we could have done to save her.

So we moved her to ITU.

The Intensive Treatment Unit,

where she later died.

Where were you when that happened?

I was with Mrs Warren.

Do you usually sit with dying patients?

No.

I want to go back to the three hours you were gone from the ward.

SCREAMS

-That's it, Lola. That's it. Not long now.

-You said that half an hour ago!

I don't think you're in any position to criticise my bedside manner.

Who hurt you, Lola?

Boyfriend.

Ex-boyfriend.

-Your father?

-Yeah.

We can go to the police, you know. Even if you're in trouble with them.

He is the police.

BEEPING

I said no authorities!

It's coming. It's coming.

Breathe.

-Push!

-Urgh!

Yes.

-Well done.

-BABY CRIES

It's a girl.

What for? I was gone. What I was doing is irrelevant.

It goes to character.

I wasn't aware it was my character on trial?

Mr Griffin, your character as a person and a surgeon goes to...

No matter where you go, there you are.

I'm sorry?

No matter where you go, there you are.

It's a piece of graffiti on the wall of my cell in prison.

-What is this place?

-It's a refuge. For women. They will provide medical attention.

Somewhere to stay. Some support. No authorities.

-Not unless you ask for them.

-How did you know about all this?

My daughter...

Let's just say I've had reason to know about this place.

All right. Now...

This should keep you going for a little while.

Jason will see you in.

-I've got to come back.

-But he'll come looking for me.

He can try. Look, what happened today stays between us.

-OK?

-I don't know how to thank you.

Never go back.

Never.

He will never change.

No matter where you go, there you are.

What does it mean?

It means it doesn't matter where I was for those three hours.

It doesn't matter what I did or why. Elaine Warren is dead.

She was my patient, my responsibility.

The responsibility that we assume as consultants.

The oath that we swear as doctors.

Every death hurts as it should,

but you're taught to move on because you have to.

Because you can't save everyone.

A distinguished professor from Johns Hopkins has testified that there was

nothing that could have saved Elaine Warren.

He may be right,

but regardless of the outcome of this trial,

Elaine Warren's death will haunt me

because I accept that I failed in my duty of care.

I did not kill Elaine Warren,

but I believe that I did not do enough to save her.

No matter where you go,

there you are.

Well, if it isn't Tweedle-dumb and Tweedle-dumber.

Step out, Jac. We need to talk.

I promised Becky I'd take care of her.

Becky will be taken care of. But not by you. Not today.

Guess I really am on my own.

Well, I have to hand it to Petrenko. That took guts...

Why didn't you tell me?

Why didn't you tell me what you've been going through?

What you ARE going though.

The pain...

I didn't know how.

Me and Petrenko are going to take care of Becky,

then you and me, we're going to talk.

About what?

About everything we haven't been.

You're nothing if not persistent.

Shouldn't you be off saving lives?

-Taking a break from all that stuff.

-Yeah. Me too. Sucks, right?

-Actually, I think it's time I focused on other things.

-Whatever.

-Ollie, stop doing that. It doesn't mean what you think it means.

-It's a motor skills test.

-Yes...

-If I can achieve this, I can achieve anything as a surgeon.

-It was a trick, OK?

-Just a stupid prank. That's all.

-I remember you telling me...

Yes, that mastering this would prove you were a great surgeon. But it was a prank.

A distraction.

Anything to get an annoying F2 to stop bugging me.

Why would you do something like that?

-I don't know. Because I...

-Because you're broken. Right?

Something inside you broke a long time ago.

And ever since you've become...

..more and more like a virus.

Parasite. Infecting and destroying everything you come across.

I don't even realise you do it. It's just in your nature.

-Like that scorpion that stings the frog...

-Yes. It is.

-I'm sorry.

-Are you? Will it stop you next time?

I don't know.

Goodbye, Valentine.

Goodbye, Jac.

The defence would like to call upon

someone to speak to Mr Griffin's character and standing.

The defence calls Mr Henrik Hanssen.

Eric Griffin has carried out thousands of operations.

His 90-day adjusted mortality rate

at 2.1% is rather below what one might expect,

for a surgeon who accepts high-risk patients.

He is a valued member of the Trust executive.

Gross negligence.

Not just negligence, but gross negligence.

Ric Griffin is the NHS.

Noble in intent, inflexible of conscience rational and objective

and yet full of a natural well of tremendous compassion.

I've never come across...

..a more principled...

..obstinate, yes, insubordinate, yes,

yet utterly loyal and brilliant surgeon.

I am privileged to call him a friend.

I say that Ric Griffin is like the NHS

because, like all human-made things, the NHS is flawed.

Like the people who make it work.

For we deal in empathy and yet we reserve

very little of it for ourselves.

Men and women of science, if you like.

Tilting at windmills.

Fighting battles we know can't be won.

And yet fighting them nonetheless.

Now, it is our nature to assign responsibility.

This is a necessary consequence of power.

Yet we must be very careful when we go on to apportion blame.

Elaine Warren was a Type 2 diabetic,

who ignored multiple care pathways

designed to help her deal with her condition.

Should we apportion blame to her?

Ric Griffin would not.

On the 2nd October 2017,

Holby City Hospital was primary receiver

for MAJAX victims of a motorway pile-up caused by a driver texting

while driving at 90mph. Should we apportion blame to him?

Ric Griffin would not. He did not.

Because all Ric Griffin sees are patients,

the treatment they require,

and his duty to provide it.

Ric Griffin always provides that treatment

to the very best of his ability.

Without fear, or favour, or prejudice.

It is human to be flawed.

Our grace is to take responsibility for those flaws.

Ric Griffin has always

taken that responsibility.

It is a very rare quality.

Ric Griffin is a rare man of character.

And if he is guilty

of gross negligence,

then so am I.

Aren't we all?

Yes, we have.

And do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty?