http://www.metromagazine.com.au | © ATOM | Metro Magazine 195• 61AUSTRALIA ON
THE SMALL SCREEN,Q KHU HVVD\ o7KH (PSDWK\ ([DPVp /HVOLH -DPLVRQ
ZULWHV RI KHU H[SHULHQFH DV D PHGLFDO DFWRU VKH LV
given a script and tasked with performing the role of
D oVWDQGDUGLVHG SDWLHQWp IRU D GRFWRULQWUDLQLQJ 7KH
aspiring doctors are rated on their performance using
D FKHFNOLVW ZLWK SRLQWV DZDUGHG IRU UHFRJQLVLQJ V\PS
toms, picking up on particular behaviours and identify
LQJ SRWHQWLDOO\ VLJQLĺFDQW HOHPHQWV RI IDPLO\ KLVWRU\ %XW
ZKDW LV oJHQHUDOO\ DFNQRZOHGJHG DV WKH PRVW LPSRUWDQWp
WUDLW RU DELOLW\ LV LWHP QXPEHU o9RLFHGHPSDWK\IRU
my situation/problem.’
6D @QD HMRSQTBSDC @ANTS SGD HLONQS@MBD NE SGHR kQRS VNQC
voiced
(SR MNS DMNTFG ENQ RNLDNMD SN G@UD @ RXLO@-
SGDSHB L@MMDQ NQ TRD @ B@QHMF SNMD NE UNHBD
3GD RSTCDMSR
G@UDŭSNR@XSGDQHFGSVNQCRSNFDSBQDCHSENQBNLO@RRHNM
^1
I spent a lot of 2017 in hospitals, in waiting rooms or
lying on examination tables, as a result of my chronic
illness. The scars of past poor hospital treatment sit with
PH DV PXFK DV WKH PDUNV IURP VFDOSHOV :KHQ , ĺUVW
had surgery over ten years ago, the staff were so awful
during my recovery that my very reasonable and kind
mother went from pleading with to yelling at the nurses.
Hospitals can be places of healing, but they can equally
be places of pain and trauma and grief.
I learnt that year that, often, the most caring acts are
small or unsaid. In the recovery bay after my most recent
surgery, I asked to be helped from the bed so I could
use the toilet. One nurse helped me to my feet, made
sure I was steady and took my arm so I felt protected
as I walked down the cold, hard corridor. By the time I
had arrived back at my bay, another nurse had taken my
bed away, wheeled in a comfortable recliner and brought
me a fresh blanket. This held me up even more than the
nurse who took my arm. This told me I had a team, I had
support – and that comfort and care were important.
When you are sick and vulnerable, nothing means more.
/TKRDt DQ HLJKWHSLVRGH $%& GUDPD VHULHV t VWDUV
Claire van der Boom as Frankie Bell, a resident doctor
DW D :HVWHUQ 6\GQH\ KRVSLWDO )UDQNLH KDV DVNHG WR EH
DVVLJQHG WR WKLV KRVSLWDO VKH KDV KHU H\HV ĺUPO\ SODFHG
on the renal ward and the opportunity it will afford her
to learn from resident nephrologist Chad Berger (Owen
7HDOH 6R IDU VR RUGLQDU\ PHGLFDO GUDPD %XW/TKRD’s
twist comes from the connection between these two
characters, not only as teacher and student, but also
DV GRFWRU DQG SDWLHQW
Drama of real life
)UDQNLH ZDV D KLJKOHYHO ĺQDQFH H[HFXWLYH SODJXHG ZLWK
rapid kidney failure when Berger brought her back to
life. After a kidney transplant restored her health, Frankie
decided to go to medical school, vowing to give back. It
has bred in her not only a dogged determination to excel
technically, but also something so rarely found in medical
SUDFWLWLRQHUV HPSDWK\ERUQRIUHDOOLIHH[SHULHQFH
Opposite:$OCTORS &RANKIE #LAIRE VAN DER "OOM RIGHT AND 2OWAN
"LESSING -OKGOHLOA Above, from top:-ONICA 2ENEE ,IM
SECOND FROM RIGHT 4ABB !RKA $AS LEFT AND 4ANYA 0ALLAVI 3HARDA
WITH A PATIENT "ERGER /WEN 4EALE LEFT DURING A CONSULTATION AN
UNWELL"ERGER CAREDFORBY!RTHUR!NTHONY"RANDON7ONG RIGHT