"Tough, Love" is the third episode of series 13 of Holby City and the 530th episode overall. It was directed by Sean Glynn and written by Martha Hillier.
Plot
Jac is concerned about Ric's position in the hospital and speculates that he could be made redundant on account of his ongoing chemotherapy and reduced responsibilities. Henrik passes her and Sacha; Sacha reckons that he heard her comments, and Jac worries that she looks "like a bitch".
In a treatment room in outpatients, Ric assesses a woman named Heather Brody who had recently undergone surgery and suggests that she can stop taking her steroids. Heather is confused by Ric's assessment and suspects that she is being "rushed through", but Ric argues that the medication is unnecessary and assures her that she has his undivided attention. Heather seizes the opportunity and asks Ric to look at a rash that her daughter Ella has developed.
On AAU, Sacha has left Chrissie, who has returned to work from maternity leave, a present to welcome her back and show his support. However, Chrissie maligns the gift — a small bottle of arabica bean eye gel — as "not funny" and "quite mean".
Ric checks out Ella's rash and suggests that Heather treat it with hydrocortisone and take Ella to visit her GP if it gets worse. Heather takes issue with the implication that she and Ella are wasting Ric's time, and is stunned when Ric leaves to intercept Hanssen on Keller.
As the lift stops on Darwin, Jac tries to get Hanssen's attention, but he ignores her and moves onto the next floor, leading Jac to believe that he hates her. Upon spotting Faye, Joseph tells Jac that he insists on just staying out of her way, but Jac disagrees with his plan of action. Joseph tells Faye that he is surprised that she is not at home "winding down"; Faye maintains that she needs to be at work.
On Keller, Ric is keen for the ward to be running immaculately in order to meet Hanssen's expectations, but he soon learns that Elizabeth has not printed out a copy of the day's operation list for him and has unthinkingly told Hanssen that Ric was on his lunch break. A social worker named Yetunde Bello turns up on Keller looking for John Seaford on "Marvin Ward", but Ric tells her that such a ward does not exist and that he is too busy to assist her.
Chrissie refuses Sacha's offer of special treatment and takes issue with Michael's new filing system. Greg vents his frustration with neurology not returning his calls, and Chrissie offers to call them on his behalf, prompting him to introduce himself to her
In the hospital car park, Donna reunites with Jess who is now both married and 18-weeks pregnant. Jess says that she will tell Ric about the baby at lunch. Donna is relieved and opines that the news will give Ric "something to keep fighting for"; Jess is confused. Donna asks Jess if she knows that Ric is receiving chemotherapy, but Jess believes that he has finished his course and that his tumour has irreversibly shrunk. Jess asks Donna for the truth, but an embarrassed Donna claims that she is confused and suggests that she asks Ric.
As Chrissie and Greg start flirting, Sacha insists that they are just "being friendly", but Jac believes that he is being naive. A boy named Austin Banks is admitted to AAU with burns from a live firework and in need of a Doppler ultrasound. Sacha suggests paging Ric on account of his superior vascular knowledge, but Michael is more interested in returning to HolbyCare and blindly agrees. While Jac leaves to do some "serious sucking-up", Sacha assesses Austin's burns and notices his pale skin and bruising.; his mother Gemma claims that his pale skin is from him "sitting on his arse" and ends up arguing with Austin when he claims that she caused the bruises.
While Ric organises Keller's staff, he is pleasantly surprised to be greeted by Jess, but he tells her that they will have to keep their reunion brief so he does not neglect his duties on the ward. Ric explains to Jess that everyone is "on a bit of a knife edge", and he has to stay around to "keep things calm". Elizabeth calls Ric away to assist Sacha on AAU with treating Austin.
Greg assesses Austin's condition and, upon hearing that Austin had been playing with fireworks unsupervised while Gemma was away with her partner Jamal, insinuates that Gemma has been neglectful. Sacha takes Greg aside and asks him to reserve judgement to keep Austin clean and lower the risk of exacerbating the disruption of his brachial artery. Greg posits that Austin was subtly trying to communicate the fact that he is regularly neglected, but Sacha insists on sticking to his "modus operandi"; Greg jokingly suggests that Sacha is trying to play "territorial".
On Darwin, Sarita Dubashi asks a dazed Faye about John Seaford and introduces her to Yetunde, but Faye claims to both be busy and on her break. Yetunde is shocked by Faye's attitude, but Sarita sympathises with Faye and explains that the hospital's staff are under pressure and fearful of being made redundant. Jess runs into Faye in the lift and notices her baby bump. Faye coldly claims that "the baby's father" died recently and rebukes the idea that she got married.
Sacha asks Ric for his opinion on the condition of Austin's arm; Ric believes that Austin's brachial artery is so narrow that it could stenose, so he suggests a vein patch. Sacha agrees to perform one under Ric's supervision.
At reception, Jess is shocked to be greeted by Joseph and admits that Faye led her to believe that he was dead. Jess shares a brief reunion with Mark, but she unwittingly insults him by branding the person responsible for the hospital's hiring freeze as a "moron". Ric joins Jess by the café but ends up troubling her when he mutters that he is "lucky to have a job".
Greg informs Sacha that Austin's chest X-ray, so he is happy for him to operate. Sacha tries to talk Austin through the vein patch surgery, but Gemma walks off to greet Jamal. Greg insists that Austin is being neglected and proposes containing social services, but Sacha does not agree. To help Chrissie with taking care of Daniel, Sacha approaches Chrissie about looking after Daniel for three nights when she spends time at a hotel recuperating. Chrissie is taken aback by Sacha's generosity, but Heather interrupts and asks for a second opinion on Ella's rash which has gotten worse. Heather warns Sacha and Chrissie that Ella does not like doctors, but Chrissie assures Ella that Sacha is the nicest doctor in the hospital.
On Darwin, Joseph asks Ollie where Faye is. Ollie claims that she has been somewhat "absent-minded" and has neglected her ward duties, but Joseph takes umbrage and questions Ollie's professionalism. Ollie fails to get Joseph's signature in order to allow John Seaford to be moved to St Martin's and interrogates Yetunde over the quality of the home's services, but she insists it is adequate and argues that the hospital is offering very little care itself. Ollie asks Faye to replace John's water, but she ends up spilling it all over Yetunde.
to be added
Cast
- Rosie Marcel as Jac Naylor
- Bob Barrett as Sacha Levy
- Guy Henry as Henrik Hanssen
- Hugh Quarshie as Ric Griffin
- Tina Hobley as Chrissie Williams
- Jaye Jacobs as Donna Jackson
- Luke Roberts as Joseph Byrne
- Patsy Kensit as Faye Byrne
- James Anderson as Oliver Valentine
- La Charné Jolly as Elizabeth Tait
- Edward MacLiam as Greg Douglas
- Hari Dhillon as Michael Spence
- Robert Powell as Mark Williams
- Verona Joseph as Jess Griffin
- Madeleine Bowyer as Heather Brody
- Layla Knight as Ella Brody
- Tanya Moodie as Yetunde Bello
- Joanne Matthews as Gemma Banks
- Jamie F Glover as Austin Banks
- Rakhee Thakrar as Sarita Dubashi