As the curtains draw on the climactic scene of "Malpractice," James Ford (Tom Hughes) finds himself seated beside the late Maria Carter (Katherine Dow Blyton), her presence now only a haunting memory. His attention is suddenly drawn to Sophia Hernandez's (Selin Hizli) incoming call on Maria's phone. With a somber resolve, James employs Maria's fingerprint to unlock the device, swiftly erasing any traces of their communications. Amidst this solemn task, he discovers an enigmatic envelope brimming with documents, just as a knock resonates ominously at the door.
Peering through the peephole, James beholds police officers stationed outside, their presence amplifying the gravity of the situation. Stepping outside, he engages with one of the officers, his eyes catching the name "Victoria Hall" inscribed nearby. He feigns concern, portraying Maria as a former colleague grappling with the pressures of an investigation, his worry palpable.
Departing the scene, James seeks solace with Dr. Kate McAllister (Zoe Telford), who ponders dialing 999 for assistance. His brief visit concludes abruptly, leading him to confront Will (Joshua Lacey) in his quarters. With urgency, James warns Will to steer clear of his personal space, his tone brooking no argument.
Meanwhile, Sophia learns of Maria's tragic demise over the radio, her heart heavy with sorrow. Elsewhere, Dr. Norma Callahan (Helen Behan) and Dr. George Adjei (Jordan Kouame) converse in hushed tones about the harrowing event, George revealing plans to meet with Dr. Armitage, while Dr. Hussain ponders whether to intervene. Norma, intent on delving into the maternity ward's past, agrees to join forces with Hussain, contingent on confidentiality.
James, driven by a need for answers, ventures to the hospital in search of Sophia, only to find her absent. His search then pivots towards Arun Mansoor (Ace Bhatti), whom he confronts with accusations that Maria's suicide was a direct consequence of Arun and his department's actions. Arun's curt response prompts him to inquire about Victoria Hall, leading to a tense standoff that ends with Arun instructing Chrissy to summon security.
Haunted by curiosity, James spends the night probing deeper into the mysteries surrounding Victoria Hall. Martha (Kirsty Averton)'s concerned knock at his door brings a fleeting moment of humanity, her presence a comforting balm. Meanwhile, Norma's attempts to reach Rubi fall on deaf ears, prompting George to remind her of the breach of data protection inherent in her recent actions. Norma defends her choice, driven by a parent's protective instinct.
Later, George's meeting with Dr. Armitage (Justin Avoth), a colleague of Maria's for years, reveals a man haunted by the loss of integrity within the medical profession. Armitage laments the silencing of whistleblowers through disciplinary measures, his disbelief turning to bitter reality when it struck close to home. Dr. Hussain's recounting of her own humiliation under supervision underscores the depth of corruption, her motive for staying rooted in medicine purely to appease her parents.
Armitage paints a grim picture of the maternity unit, his revelation that families' claims were dismissed as unavoidable tragedies or patients' faults chillingly illustrative of the systemic failures. Hussain's reluctance to speak out on record underscores the fear and intimidation that permeate the institution.
Elsewhere, Gina (Phoebe Sparrow)'s visit to George catches him poring over her client's design when she steps away momentarily. Her return prompts a pointed inquiry into how long she's known about the issue, the tension palpable between them.
Back at the office, Norma's revelation to George about QM's significant overhaul a decade ago casts a long shadow over their efforts, hinting at the scale of change—and perhaps resistance—required to uncover the truth buried within.
The Trust hovered precariously on the edge of bankruptcy, its fortunes further diminished by the Care Quality Commission's damning assessment of its maternity unit as subpar. Amidst this turmoil, award-winning obstetrician Eric Sawers (portrayed by Rick Warden) was named the new chief medical director, tasked with orchestrating change alongside QM's leading obstetrician, Arun Mansoor. Within a few short years, their collaborative efforts bore fruit, garnering accolades and achieving the best "normal" birth rates in the region. Notably, C-section rates plummeted to an astonishing 14% in 2020, a stark contrast to the 22 to 26% prevalence in most other trusts at the time.
Norma, driven by curiosity, submitted a Freedom of Information request to delve into the Trust's financial standing. However, her inquiry was summarily blocked, fueling suspicions. George assured her that their critical incident data outperformed trusts of similar size, yet Norma was convinced they needed an insider's perspective to unearth the truth. Meanwhile, George discovered confidential information regarding Gina's client, a revelation that would compromise his professional ethics by breaching confidentiality. Such a disclosure could potentially sever their relationship, as Gina's firm was in the midst of redesigning QM's psychiatry unit, with her client preparing a bid to acquire it. Norma contested that the unit was not even on the market, learning that the client in question was Asquith Archer Residential, who had been conspiring this proposal for quite some time. Gina had been aware of George's connection for weeks but chose to keep silent.
Eager to uncover more about Asquith Archer Residential, Norma's investigation intensified. Just as she was about to delve deeper, James found himself visited by Michelle Dornaway (played by Charlotte Mills) from the Adult Care Team, accompanied by Dr. Amit Shafi (Ash Rizi). Their mission: to assess James's mental well-being. Tablets were discovered in his room, prompting concerns about his previous mood swings at his previous job, as recounted by Martha. James began to unravel the narrative of Maria, the Trust, and their alleged attempts to scapegoat him for Rosie's demise. He claimed that Maria and Victoria Hall were poised to become whistleblowers, but Michelle and Amit remained skeptical. When James suggested they speak with Kate McAllister (Zoe Telford), he was startled to learn she had requested his Mental Health Act assessment. Facing involuntary commitment, James agreed to come peacefully but fled at the first opportunity, his panic intensifying upon seeing a sign for St. Martin’s Hall.
Elsewhere, Eric reassured Sophia that they had successfully resolved matters with the Patel family, clearing her path to return to work. Arun revealed that Freya Patel had concealed a medical condition, said to be an endocrine disorder, urging Sophia to let it go. Eric, who harbored less leniency, pushed for her to sign an NDA before resuming her duties. George and Norma, meanwhile, were buried under a deluge of boxes from the Trust, seemingly intended to hinder the progress of their investigation. Norma, However, was undeterred, focusing on uncovering whether promised repairs had ever materialized. She insisted it was implausible they had invested over six million pounds in the building without tangible improvements.
Martha eventually found James back in his room, where he implored her to trust him and vowed to rectify the situation. Determined, he drove to Victoria Hall, only to discover Maria Carter was meeting with another couple, Kirsty (Amy Drake) and Johnny (Rob Witcomb), fueling the intrigue surrounding her actions.
Johnny elaborates that Maria had unexpectedly reached out to them roughly a month prior, seeking to dissect the mishaps surrounding Aaron's delivery. The hospital attempted to reassure them by asserting that Kirsty's encounter was an unremarkable occurrence, with the medical records failing to chronicle any of the ghastly occurrences Maria had described. Maria was eager to rally behind them in pursuing legal recourse against the hospital, but Johnny expresses skepticism about their prospects now that Maria has passed away.
Sophia receives a message from James, requesting a meeting at The George Pub. She promptly arrives to meet him, and he discloses that Maria had mentioned the referral to him. Sophia contends that Maria hadn't adequately articulated the issues Rosie had faced. James asserts that even after Rosie returned, complaining of an infection, Maria still hadn't grasped the severity. He insists that Sophia must rectify the situation by confronting the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) and confessing the truth. He acknowledges that Sophia is also a victim and argues that the pervasive culture won't change unless they intervene. James warns that others will suffer if she doesn't act. Before departing, James assures Sophia that he'll see her the next day.
Norma informs George and Kathy that there is a lack of evidence regarding the allocation of donations. George mentions that Asquith Archer Residential, owned by Tasmin Warwick, focuses on large-scale redevelopment projects, excluding NHS hospitals.
The following morning, Ford awakens in his car and dials Hernandez, who is at the hospital. She encounters Freya (Jessica Temple) and Ravi (Bhav Joshi) in a state of distress in the hallway. She proceeds to the nursery, where she sees their baby on life support, covering her mouth to stifle her sobs. Outside the hospital, Kate inquiries with Eric about taking a sabbatical before commencing her new job. He informs her that the Trust never intended to retain her after her affair with Ford.
During a meeting, Ford alleges that Maria had revealed dozens of couples being maltreated by the Maternity department and presents them with documents. As George scans them, he notes the absence of any identified victims. Ford proposes searching the dates in the Maternity database, but George cautions that the Trust will never grant them access, and Maria will likely be scapegoated. Norma emphasizes the importance of convincing someone within the organization to admit that the files are fabricated. George reveals that the affected couple won't come forward due to their profound fear.
Hernandez enters, expressing regret for not intervening sooner and vowing to expose the Maternity department's cover-ups. George warns that this could jeopardize her career, but she insists that the Trust must be held accountable.
At the Board of Directors meeting, Norma elucidated the pressing issues that plagued the psychiatry department. George countered by asserting that they had presided over a perilous maternity unit while neglecting the psychiatry department's decline. Norma accused Eric of fostering a climate of intimidation and bullying within the maternity unit, covering up traumatic births and failing to shield whistleblowers. George revealed that he had ordered a valuation of the psychiatry unit three years prior, and everyone had approved its sale. Throughout this process, they had deceived the staff by feigning diligent efforts to keep the psychiatry unit operational. Norma charged that Eric had manipulated their investigation to ensure the psychiatry unit's closure. Eric steadfastly denied these allegations.
Norma scolded Arun and Eric, while George inquired how many were aware of Eric's personal profit motives from the sale. He disclosed that Tamsin Warwick, his brother's wife, owned the property company poised to secure the contract. Although the psych building was valued at 32 million, Tamsin's company anticipated earning up to 60 million by converting it into luxury apartments. The lion's share of the profits would flow into a parent company jointly owned by Tamsin's husband, Rupert, and his brother, Eric Sawers. Norma warned that the Trust would be entangled in legal proceedings for years.
George rejoined Gina, who demanded to know how he could have orchestrated such deceit. Gina lamented that his position ruined lives, handing him back his keys before departing. Meanwhile, James visited Ed Newman to apologize, but Ed retreated upon hearing his baby's cries. James addressed the medical board, while Sophia carried a box out of the hospital, highlighting broader cultural failings within QM's obstetric department. Eric was escorted away by police officers.
James mentioned freeing Rosie from her restraints and the pressure of the Minor Injuries Unit's investigation. After deliberating, the board concluded that James had prioritized his career over Fizz's welfare but deemed his erasure not to be in the public interest, instead suspending him for 12 months. James brushed past Kate as he exited. George encountered Liam's parents, Amy and Mark, apologizing and explaining that he had been misinformed about the completion of all chest procedures. He realized something was amiss immediately upon administering the drug. Despite George's attempts to resuscitate Liam, the boy was already weakened by cancer. Mark revealed that the hospital and colleagues had scapegoated George instead of acknowledging their own mistakes, expressing hope that Liam's death hadn't driven him away from clinical practice. They assured George that they held no ill will towards him.
James returned to The Larkwood Centre's Willow Ward, while Norma discovered that Rubi had returned.
