As the episode of Malpractice unfolds, Lucinda Edwards (portrayed by Niamh Algar) sits in quiet contemplation with Abi (played by Liberty Miller) amidst the sterile environment of the hospital. Beth Relph (Hannah Walters) approaches them, her concern etched on her face, to discuss the impending social services referral. Lucinda, her voice tinged with apprehension, declines to send it, fearing that it might lead to Abi being taken away and potentially exposing the MIU's shortcomings. Tom (Lorne MacFadyen), overwhelmed with guilt, steps in to plead for Abi's innocence, urging Beth not to penalize her for his mistakes. Beth assures him that she will handle the situation judiciously. In a private moment, she gently but firmly advises Lucinda to sort out her own affairs.
At their home, Tom confronts Lucinda, probing into her whereabouts and the reason behind her phone being off. He inquiries about her continued use of diazepam and how Abi had accessed the tablets. Lucinda swears that Abi must have stumbled upon an old strip, insisting that she had ceased her dependency upon returning to work. She reminds Tom of their financial constraints, hinting that his job security is far from assured. Tom, determined to assist but needing honesty, insists that Lucinda come clean. Lucinda, invoking her daughter's life as a solemn oath, denies any drug use. Tom dismisses her protestations, still haunted by the events of the previous day.
Dr. Mike Willett (Tristan Sturrock) addresses the staff, his tone grave as he discusses the inquiry's devastating impact on the trust's reputation. He warns that the loss of trainees looms if they fail to provide satisfactory responses. Willett proposes terminating Lucinda's employment immediately, fearing that her continued presence, especially if she is later dismissed by the MIU, would tarnish the hospital's image further. Beth interjects, reminding the group that Lucinda, as a trainee in a teaching hospital, remains under their care and responsibility. Willett, however, views Lucinda as a liability. After a vote, the decision is made to retain Lucinda in her position.
Elsewhere, Lucinda bids a poignant farewell to Tom and Abigail. Her thoughts interrupted by an email from Wellspring Pharmacy alerting her to a prescribing error. She hastily makes her way to the pharmacy to rectify the mistake, where she encounters Dr. Jubair Singh (played by Ash Tandon). He rekindles their previous encounter at the Patient Care Awards and raises the incident where she accused one of his dispensers of misconduct. Lucinda accuses Camilla of addiction and Jubair of illegally peddling prescription drugs, threatening to expose him to the MIU. Jubair, unfazed, suggests that her daughter's accident would cast a darker shadow if her hidden diazepam addiction came to light. He proposes a mutual silence, an unspoken agreement binding them both.
Before Lucinda departs, she is instructed to discard Rob's phone. George Adjei, portrayed by Jordan Kouame, joins Norma Callahan, played by Helen Behan, in a conversation centered around Lucinda's possible involvement in prescribing fentanyl to Edith, attempting to frame it as a suicide attempt. Norma warns that Edith's parents might initiate criminal proceedings against Lucinda if it transpires that she prescribed the medication that led to her demise. George finds it peculiar that no drugs were discovered in the apartment despite Edith retaining the prescription. Today, George heads to Royal Hospital (RH) to obtain samples of Lucinda's past prescriptions and agrees to catch up with Ramya during his visit.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Lucinda engages in a discussion with Dr. Ramya Morgan, played by Priyanka Patel. Meanwhile, Dr. Oscar Beattie, portrayed by Scott Chambers, notices George entering the premises. Lucinda speaks with Sam Henry regarding Abi and the Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU). Sam informs her that Rob is showing positive signs of recovery and is undergoing another CT scan. Sam then escorts Lucinda to Patient X, who is now awake and coherent. The boy confesses that he feels safer within the hospital walls than he would at home. Lucinda offers him her number, urging him to reach out if he needs anything. She also urges Yussef to steer clear of trouble.
George informs Norma that he has dispatched a request for handwriting samples. Lucinda attempts to call about visiting Abi, but her call goes unanswered. As she steps into her car, she realizes she has a mandatory interview with the Medical Incident Unit (MIU) scheduled for the next day.
During her meeting with the MIU, Lucinda is promptly grilled about the prescription found in Edith's apartment. She swiftly denies authoring it, suspecting that someone deliberately planted it. Lucinda recounts her relationship with Rob Thornbury, a supervisor at her medical school who became a close friend. He revealed to her that Edith was an addiction patient under his care. One day, he called her in a panic, informing her that Edith had accidentally overdosed on a medication he prescribed. He begged her to take charge of Edith's case and code the overdose as deliberate to avoid scrutiny of his prescribing practices. Lucinda believed that coding it as deliberate wasn't a significant issue and didn't think Rob deserved investigation over a single prescribing error.
George inquires if the names Alexander Taylor and Camilla Woodham ring any bells, but Lucinda insists they do not. The MIU shows her the case notes, revealing that both patients experienced deliberate opioid overdoses shortly after she received calls from Rob. Lucinda concedes that they were accidents and that she was aware they were coming because Rob had warned her. She argued that prescribing for addicts is inherently challenging and fraught with risks. When questioned about Rob, Lucinda reveals that he is in the ITU at RH following an accident a few weeks ago.
Norma concedes that the narrative is beginning to resemble a bundle of deceitful tales. Lucinda, sensing the gravity, insists that they confront Eva Thornbury, Rob's wife, who, unknown to many, was Edith's attending physician at the Guelder Clinic under her maiden name, Tait. As this revelation unfolds, Lucinda is cautioned that her actions might invite criminal repercussions. George, holding crucial intelligence from a trustworthy source, alleges that Eva has been indulging in diazepam abuse and pilfering it from the Accident and Emergency department. Norma, determined to uncover the truth, proposes that Lucinda submit to official drug testing. Lucinda, eager to clear her name, demands to know the identity of the source, believing herself to be an unwitting victim in this saga. Norma recounts Lucinda's actions, leaving no stone unturned.
George queries the origin of the diazepam, prompting Lucinda to reveal that Tom had informed A&E that the pills were prescribed for an old shoulder injury. Norma urges Lucinda to comply with the drug screening, to which she reluctantly agrees. Yet, Norma finds Lucinda's entire testament today to be riddled with inconsistencies and suggests suspending her pending further investigation. Lucinda is issued a strict directive to refrain from entering any clinical zones of the hospital and is instructed to surrender her ID and access cards immediately. George, unyielding, declines to offer any assistance, and Lucinda is informed that she will receive a letter outlining the date for her tribunal hearing.
In a private huddle, George and Norma dissect Lucinda's narrative, pondering its credibility. George acknowledges the perplexity of the situation but expresses suspicion towards the Guelder Clinic. Norma concurs, suggesting they interview Eva Tait, albeit acknowledging that Lucinda's credibility might be compromised if she is indeed addicted. Kathy is tasked with verifying with the Royal Hospital's chief pharmacist if any prescriptions are missing.
Lucinda seeks solace in Tom's company, hoping to be by Abi's side. She informs Tom of her suspension, which he had already learned from Beth Relph during their discussion about Abi and the impending social services referral. Tom, emphasizing his limits, encourages Lucinda to cooperate with the assessment. Lucinda, feeling betrayed, reminds Tom of his promise to stand by her. Tom clarifies that the social services assessment is imperative.
Meanwhile, Dr. Leo Harris, impressed by Oscar's audit, acknowledges Willett's oversight of purchases but is aware that most surplus medications are donated to charity. Leo intends to discuss this with Mike, potentially leading to a publication for Oscar. George and Norma's visit to Eva unearths that Lucinda was once Rob's student. Eva doesn't recall her husband prescribing medications to Lucinda's patients but wonders if Lucinda mentioned her past romantic involvement with Rob.
She asserts that Lucinda has developed an unhealthy fixation on him, rendering her skeptical of every word Lucinda utters concerning him. In a desperate bid, Lucinda rushes to the hospital, seeking Rob's Assurance that he will intervene on her behalf. She implores him to confess to the Medical Incident Unit (MIU) about planting the prescription bearing her name in Edith's apartment. Lucinda is aware of Rob's clandestine work for Jubair Singh, doling out prescriptions to addicts. However, Rob declines, leaving Lucinda incensed and accusing him of betraying her utterly. Suddenly, Rob begins coughing up blood, prompting Lucinda to hastily depart.
The next morning, Lucinda receives an email outlining the conditions of her suspension. Meanwhile, George learns about Rob's accident before he can peruse the inconclusive handwriting analysis pertaining to Lucinda. Lucinda manages to secure a visitor's pass and storms into the hospital. Dr. Leo Harris cuts short Ramya and Oscar's work, introducing them to the new locum registrar, Dr. Sandeep Khan. News of Lucinda's suspension precedes her entrance. Lucinda claims she has come to collect her belongings, then questions Beth and accuses Ramya of spreading rumors about her stealing diazepam. Ramya asserts her innocence, while Oscar confesses to informing the MIU about the diazepam, explaining he couldn't remain silent when help was supposedly on the way, not suspension.
After Lucinda exits, Ramya expresses relief, tired of being scapegoated. Leo commends Oscar for doing the right thing, believing Lucinda will come to see his actions in a better light once she calms down. Enraged, Lucinda bursts into Jubair's office, proposing to take Rob's place in his employ. In exchange, she demands access to diazepam. Jubair agrees to a one-month trial, equipping her with a phone for client communication and outlining her role in writing prescriptions for his pharmacies. Payment will be in cash at the end of the month, with a reduced rate until she proves her worth. As Rob's condition worsens, Lucinda, once outside, hastily consumes diazepam in her vehicle.
