Episode 8 - All My Trials
Following the complaint to the medical authorities by a patient the Doc was treating he has been advised by Chris Parsons (Vincent Franklin) not to practice for a week before his hearing.
However this does not stop patients asking for his help. Bill Potter (Tom Mothersdale), a local potter, approaches Martin with a suspected ganglion. Martin sends him to a surgery in Wadebridge, but Bill decides against it – he has too much work on.
With no patients to deal with, Louisa encourages Martin to get out of the house and go for a walk, as she really needs to focus on her end of module essay.
Ruth tells Martin she has done some research into who is going to be on the panel at the hearing, which doesn’t fill him with confidence.
Penhale has commissioned a bust from Bill but it is not finished when he goes to collect it. Bill blames the ganglion and asks Penhale to use the technique of smacking it with a book to help speed things along. Penhale smacks the ganglion, which doesn’t go according to plan.
American tourist Beth Traywick (Sigourney Weaver) returns to Portwenn to do some research into her family tree. She manages to flatter Mrs Tishell into sharing her local knowledge.
Mrs Tishell’s opinion of Beth quickly changes though, when she finds out Beth has a medical issue she wants to see Martin about, which could jeopardise his position with regards to the hearing.
Louisa goes to see Chris Parsons to find out how serious the hearing is. Chris opens up to Louisa about his marital problems, after having a few too many glasses of Bert’s “special” blend of Large Whisky. Chris tries to kiss Louisa, but then has a ‘grand mal seizure’. The following morning Chris makes a clumsy apology and manages to spill water all over Louisa’s computer: how will she get her essay in on time?
Martin, on his way to the hearing, is forced to take a detour when Mrs Tishell calls with an emergency: Beth has collapsed. Now late for the hearing, Martin rushes in, only for the hearing to be interrupted again by Penhale and Bill. Bill’s ganglion was a radial artery aneurysm, which has now burst and needs an emergency procedure to save his hand...