The Royal

Dr. David Cheriton arrives at St. Aidans Royal Free Hospital in Elsinby, newly qualified and keen to impress at his job interview - only to discover they arent even expecting him. Meanwhile, Dr. Jill Weatherills professional competence is called into question during a home visit, and hospital porter Ken Hopkirks efforts to put up a television aerial end in disaster.

Claude Greengrass causes a kerfuffle with a coffin containing the remains of his deceased sister and a mysterious phone call only serves to raise suspicions. Jill Weatherill has trouble with a patient who refuses to accept her condition, while Dr. Cheriton panics when he arrives at the scene of an accident bereft of vital medical equipment.

Dr. Cheriton has the unenviable task of informing a patient she has little time to live, and the situation soon prompts the wedding of the year. Arriving at the scene of an accident at the railway station, Dr. Ormerod is forced to make a drastic decision, but an oncoming train signals disaster. Gambling fever grips the hospital when a champion jockey is admitted and, as always, Greengrass is in the thick of the furore.

A serious coach crash throws the Royal into chaos, and for one member of the staff, the incident proves exceptionally traumatic. Cheriton has a bombshell for Nurse Taylor.

A teenage boy is brought into the Royal having fallen from a cliff, but it soon emerges that the incident was a suicide attempt as evidence of extreme depression comes to the surface. Cheriton contacts the youngsters psychiatrist but is taken aback when electroshock therapy is suggested as a form of treatment, so ventures to the family home to recommend an alternative — only for tragedy to strike. Meanwhile, a hypochondriac causes chaos at the hospital when she insists her dog be treated following a snake bite, and a heart-to-heart between Weatherill and Ormerod leads to a passionate kiss.

A frantic mother and father bring their daughter to the Royal for whooping cough treatment, and Cheriton is shocked to hear the girl hasnt been vaccinated because of her parents fears of the side-effects. Tragically, the youngster dies - leaving the worried staff to cope with an influx of children in need of immunisation.

As preparations get under way for the Royals charity ball, Ken Hopkirk is forced to rescue the band hired for the evening when their van breaks down en route. Meanwhile, Dr. Weatherill faces a traumatic time as one of her patients discovers she has contracted syphilis and Dr. Ormerod resolves to move on when it emerges that his wife will not recover from her coma.

Tragedy strikes at the Royal v Ashfordly General rugby match, as Cheriton dives to score a try, only to be pounced on by opponents. It soon emerges that his injuries are serious, and Ormerod rushes to help his colleague - but his efforts prove futile and Cheriton dies at the scene. Meanwhile, Alun is involved in a road accident caused by a man who recently suffered a stroke, and student nurse Samantha Beaumont fails to impress Matron and Sister Brigid by putting pink sheets on the wards beds.

Ormerod faces a difficult dilemma when Carolines father Henry turns up suggesting they turn off her life-support machine, having done all they can, but the guilt-ridden doctor wonders whether hed only be letting her die so he can be with Weatherill. Meanwhile, Goodwin puts his career on the line when he allows a member of the public to cure a back injury, student nurse Samantha Beaumont is less than impressed by a date with theatre technician Alun Morris and a patients pet parrot causes chaos in the hospital.

The staff are excited by the arrival of a TV film crew at the hospital, especially Mr Harper, who is desperate to be caught on camera - and it looks like his dreams of stardom may be about to come true when Mr Middleditch gives him an important job for the broadcast. Elsewhere, the atmosphere is much more tense, as Dr. Ormerod and nurse Meryl Taylor are called out to help a boy who has been trapped below the surface of an icy lake for 20 minutes - and to make matters worse, the ambulance carrying the unconscious lad back to hospital gets caught in a snowdrift. On a lighter note, Ray Piper is brought in with a huge bump on his head - and theres much hilarity when it turns out his wife has hit him with a frozen turkey. But before the day is out, hes not the only member of his family to be admitted.

Goodwin comes to the aid of a man brought in with a leg injury which his friend claims was sustained in an agricultural accident, but it soon emerges that hes actually suffering a gunshot wound - prompting his panic-stricken acquaintance to pull a revolver on the hospital staff. As armed police surround the Royal, the doctors strive to persuade him to hand over the gun, but will they be able to prevent further bloodshed? Meanwhile, Ormerod helps fossil collectors hurt in a landslide, Matron tries to convince Sister Brigid to return to work and student nurse Samantha Beaumont is less than impressed at the offer of a date with Alun Morris.

A group of drunken mods arrive at the hospital in a shocking state, and Ken Hopkirk soon makes the grim discovery that they have been drinking industrial alcohol supplied by their friend, theatre technician Alun Morris. Meanwhile, a fourth member of the boozing group is brought in and has his stomach pumped immediately - but it soon emerges that the illicit hooch has blinded him. Elsewhere, Mr Rose and his surgical team treat a widow with a gangrenous toe at her farmhouse, and student nurse Samantha Beaumont receives a telling-off for laying out operating instruments in an incorrect order.

Dr. Ormerod is furious to discover the police have launched an investigation into his wifes death, and reveals in a heated outburst that she was planning to leave him at the time of the accident. Bad news strikes a family when it emerges a couples son has developed a hereditary heart disorder, a mother-to-be suffers kidney failure during childbirth and hospital porter Ken Hopkirk needs an operation after injuring himself while lifting a piano. Romance blossoms for Dr. Goodwin and student nurse Samantha Beaumont, and Lizzie Kennoways driving lesson ends in disaster when she slams into the back of Mr. Harpers parked car.

Ormerod faces a testing time when his father-in-law arrives demanding to know whether he was seeing Dr. Weatherill while his late daughter was still alive. Following a heated exchange, it emerges that the disgruntled patriarch has hired a private detective to investigate the couple - but the situation only serves to bring them closer together, culminating in a marriage proposal. At the Royal, a painfully thin girl causes concern for Goodwin - whose green-eyed monster emerges when student nurse Samantha Beaumont agrees to a date with a younger man - and the hospital is evacuated after a suicide victims corpse is brought in emitting toxic fumes.

Mr. Harper prepares for the arrival of an important private patient, who proves useful when a badly injured teenager is brought in after an industrial accident after Dr. Goodwin puts his career on the line to fight for justice for the accident victim. Sister Brigid helps a terminally ill alcoholic called Rory, and Lizzie comes to terms with her husbands recent behaviour and looks ahead to the future.

Dr. Weatherill is involved in an air rescue to save an unconscious girl and finds herself braving a cliff abseil to reach the youngster. Dr. Ormerod faces a difficult time when he misdiagnoses a patient who is left fighting for life later in hospital. Sister Brigid has an accident on her bike, while Harper faces a staff revolt.

Samantha struggles to cope with the reality of her recent discovery and takes desperate action which leaves her life hanging in the balance. Frankie and Gordon attempt a daring rescue to help a teenager in danger on the weir, while Ken has something to hide from Harper. Jeffs casual encounter with a friend of Lizzies suddenly turns serious when he realises his career could be at risk.

Matron is injured by a thief and Jeff fears he is gaining a bad reputation. Meanwhile, an outbreak of tubercolosis keeps the staff busy.

Dr. Goodwin faces the pressure as rumours about him frantically circulate the hospital and when Dr. Weatherill passes on some important news, he wastes no time in using it to set the record straight. Nurse Taylors happiness about her future with Frankie is sensationally shattered as the extent of his dishonesty is revealed, while Matron is shocked to see a familiar face on the ward.

Matron is forced to change her plans after a tragic turn of events and decides to withdraw her resignation. Nurse Taylor grows closer to Jeff as they tackle an unusual medical emergency, but later finds herself confronted by an angry Frankie. Harpers money-saving schemes backfire in spectacular fashion, while an argument over a patients health sparks off a chain of events which leaves Gordons life hanging in the balance.

Mr. Middleditch brings his reign to an end as he hands over the ledgers to the new administrator - having craftily secured the hospitals future. Dr. Ormerods plaster comes off, Mr. Rose risks his own skin to save a friend during a game of golf, and a trivial accident leads a family to make a major and heartbreaking discovery.

Dr. Goodwin is accused of taking sides when he goes too far to help a woman who claims her husband is hitting her, and there is a mystery to solve when a patient is admitted under a false name. Meanwhile, Dr. Ormerods strange behaviour shows signs of becoming worse - and Frankie fears the surgeon is becoming addicted to his medication.

Frankie faces trouble when someone tries to steal his motorbike

It is revealed that a couple have unofficially adopted an unwell child.

Dr Makri takes a crash course in dealing with Yorkshire folk. Stella deals with the confessions of a window cleaner.

A fishing trawler causes havoc at a wedding reception and Adam has to make a difficult choice.

Goodwin returns to England with Nkeshi, but his plans for her future face some opposition. A singing superstar requires a hospital stay but Frankie almost loses his job when the paparazzi catch them in flagrante.

Lady Isabella Martindale has had a horse riding accident and is driven to THE ROYAL by her Chauffeur Tom, who Lizzie takes an instant liking to! Whilst Mr Rose diagnoses Lady Isabella with a broken ankle, Adam Carnegie tries to charm her into making a donation to the private wards.

An expectant mother attends for treatment, but is harassed by her ex-husband. Stella is relieved to find she has not contracted an infection from her attacker, but suffers accusations of lying to save her reputation. Meanwhile, Sister Brigid makes a misguided suggestion, and a surprise visitor from overseas forces Goodwin to reconsider his future plans.

A case of anthrax prompts an investigation from the Public Health Office.

A commuter train crash initiates an emergency caesarian operation on a pregnamt woman, unfortunately the baby is transported to ashfordly General, and fate claims the life of the premature infant, making Jill more determined than ever to support Carnegies plans for a preemy baby unit at the hospital. Meanwhile, local farmer Sam Benson (guest star Jack Deam) causes concern with his erratic behaviour, and Stellas rapist requires life-saving surgery after being attacked by the father of another victim.

Jill becomes unwell after earlier receiving the results of a pregnancy test. Elsewhere, when a baby goes missing, suspicion falls on the parents of a girl admitted with a broken ankle. Meanwhile, Gordon makes a discovery about a diabetic patient that explains his behaviour and, in a dramatic finale, tragedy looms over the hospital.

Carnegie disapproves when Nick admits several homeless people from Elsinby to the hospital. Gordon is reluctant to let Jill take on heavy duties. However his plans fall apart when she is called to attend to road along the coast when a female victim of a car accident goes into labor. Meanwhile, Matron is stunned when she sees who is the new student nurse, and patient who enjoys gossip discloses where Ken is.

Eric Fogle is appointed as new head porter, putting Aluns nose out of joint. The hospital receives a letter of resignation from Dr Banner in Australia and has to appoint a partner to the practice - Weatherill believes she knows just the person, but Dr Ormerod favors Dr Burnett. Elsewhere, when Lucy Bayliss is involved in a horse-riding accident an X-ray reveals a more long-term problem.

The hospital staff are pushed to their limits when an amusement arcade collapses. In the search for survivors, a child is found with a suspected blood-clotting disorder and the team must find his mother to obtain his medical history. Stella enters the wreckage to free a girl who is trapped under a fruit machine, but when she becomes blocked in, Frankie tries to save her - and declares his feelings in the process. After another collapse both Frankie and Stella become trapped. The staff work fast to try and free them.

Dr Burnett is called out to a run down farm house where 15-year-old Simon, who has speech and learning difficulties, is running a high fever. The farm is in a bad state and the family seem to be struggling to cope. They’re horrified when Burnett reveals he needs to get Simon to hospital ASAP in order to rule out meningitis. Will they get to the bottom of Simon’s illness?

With Susie and Carnegies relationship becoming the focus of talk in the hospital, Matron reaches the end of her patience and decides to suspend Susie when shes late for work. Mr Rose faces a personal test when a golfing friend of his has to into the operating theatre, Nick copes struggles with a dilemna and Gordon and Bobby are called to a farming accident where a man is trapped by a combine harvester.

Sister Brigid helps to make a bright future for her sister Moira and her baby. However when things take a shocking twist Gordon and Jill have to make a heartrending decision. Susie does her best to be the perfect nurse and ends her relationship with Carnegie. However he proposes to her. Meanwhile Bobby has to deal with the violent stepfather of a local thug, taking matters into his own hands.

Dr Ellis confronts local prejudice when he discovers one of his patients has contracted a rare disease abroad. Jack and Alun begin a crackpot scheme to raise chickens, Brigid makes a decision about baby Aislings future, while Jean becomes more frustrated with Lizzies incompetence.

Mr Middleditch has come in to St Aidans hospital, accompanied by his wife, for a routine operation. Noticing that Mrs Middleditch looks unwell, the hospital decides to give her a blood transfusion. Distracted by the attentions of a rich divorced playboy, who has promised to marry her, Susie Dixon administers the wrong blood, which later results in serious consequences for both her and the patient.

A patient with cancer dies unexpectedly after a visit from Dr Ormerod, and the grieving family point the finger at him. Dr Omerod is arrested on suspicion of murder – how will he prove his innocence? Dr Ralph Ellis holds a clinic at the local prison and is concerned about the mental health of one of his patients. When a full scale riot breaks out, Ralph’s trapped. Will he escape unscathed?

A family outing causes trouble for the Ormerods and Lizzie attempts to improve her vocabulary.

There is a near crash on the road which involves a woman called Dolly and her daughter Alison and a rich aristocratic heir and his girlfriend. Ellis and Ormerod are called out to attend the scene of the accident. The car with Dolly and Alison in it ends up crashing into the lake to avoid the other car. With the car sinking Jack attempts to get them out. The other couple are taken to the hospital to be checked out where a water tank comes crashing through the ceiling and traps Tom the male driver. Suffering with a a ruptured spleen, Ormerod and Rose manage to free him and get him to theatre for surgery.

A can of worms is opened when Gordon attends to a local familys problems, and when violence spills onto the Royals wards he gets caught up in the crossfire. Meanwhile, baby Aislings adoption is final. However, Sister Brigid is confused by her feelings.