The Royal

- Season 2

(2003)

Eve Peterson comes to the Royal requiring an emergency hysterectomy. She has had an illegal abortion, which she wants to keep secret from her boyfriend, placing Jill Wetherill in an awkward situation. Jill also comforts Gordon Ormerod, whose wife is in a coma and was apparently trying to leave him. Oscar Blaketon arrives from Aidensfield to tell Greengrass that a young woman is looking for him via the newspapers. It is, apparently, his long-lost daughter.

Middleditch is away and Nigel Harper, his stand-in, annoys everyone with his fussy ways. Equally annoying is wealthy hypochondriac Mrs. Lyons, who demands her dog be treated after being bitten by a snake. David Cheriton gets involved with Jeffrey Carpenter, a depressed boy who has attempted suicide but things do not work out as he had hoped. Jill and Gordon Ormerod have a passionate kiss.

Sister Brigid finds a clash between her faith and her profession when it becomes apparent that a devout Catholic woman be sterilised for her own good, bringing her into conflict with her priest. A hunting party ends in disaster whilst Ken fights Harper over arrangements for the hospital laundry.

Mr. and Mrs. Barrie bring their young daughter Denise to the hospital for treatment for whooping cough. Her resultant death, because she was never vaccinated, causes panic as the Royal staff endeavour to immunise as many local children as possible. Mr. Rose operates on himself and Harper plans to cut costs by selling an ambulance whilst David has a weekend away with Staff Nurse Meryl Taylor.

Dr. Ormerod answers a call for help following a boating accident but goes to the wrong location and ultimately the injured man dies, causing the doctor to blame receptionist Lizzie. Alf Ventress brings in two men from Aidensfield who were fighting over a woman, when one collapsed with a brain haemmorhage. Sister Brigid comforts Jane who is having a baby for the first time at age 37 and it all goes wrong. Meryl Taylor believes she is pregnant but will not allow David to marry her purely out of duty.

The hospital's charity ball is being organized by Meryl and David with a band led by porter Andy's brother Vic and Aidensfield barmaid Gina on vocals. When the band's van breaks down, Ken rides to the rescue. Jill treats a woman with syphilis but is on hand to comfort Gordon when he realizes that his wife may never recover.