As Bristol's most challenged NHS surgery reels from one crisis to another, there are questions to be asked about health and safety, funding, complaints procedures, patient numbers, secure record keeping and the sheer number of patients who will insist on getting ill.

Escaping the chaos of his understaffed surgery, Dr Roy goes for dinner with an old flame, who runs a single-handed practice somewhere on the Downs, and he dreams mistily of life as a solo GP.

Back at Polyoaks, the patients are spilling out into the car park as increasingly desperate practice manager Nurse Monica struggles to persuade the doctors to cut appointment times.

Her cause is a forlorn one, as Dr Jeremy has been seconded to A&E, because of the pressure on hospital emergency departments, and Dr Hugh is increasingly preoccupied with NHS politics.

Nigel Planer, Simon Greenall and Polly Frame star as the staff of Bristol's most dysfunctional General Practice.

Written by Dr Phil Hammond and Mr David Spicer.

Dr Hugh Thornton …… Simon Greenall
Dr Roy Thornton .….. Nigel Planer
Nurse Monica ..…. Polly Frame
Dr Margaret …... Monica Dolan
Rory …… Lewis Hurst

Director: Frank Stirling

A 7digital production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2017. Show less