It's Ed's birthday and the day starts off with him catching a junkie breaking into the surgery. Mrs Fleming is rattled by the burglary as the boy gained access through her flat.

Today is the anniversary of the day Cathy gave birth to a stillborn baby. Cathy and Ed's grief is private so much so they can't even talk to each other about it. Very few people at the Clinic know about the stillbirth.

Keelin has to face up to the news about her mother's cancer. She realises that her family cannot cope and she has to give up her single lifestyle and move back home to care for Mary, a difficult woman whom Keelin has never got on with at the best of times. Fiona goes further off the rails, and Cathy is forced to dismiss her.

Alex considers starting a thing with local barman, Michael. His carefree existence is abruptly shattered however by a needle stick incident. The thought of contracting Hep C from the needle and having to give up the job he loves turns Alex into an unrecognisable nervous wreck, much to everyone's surprise.

Susie's life is changed totally with the unexpected arrival of her teenage daughter Moya, who has decided to leave her home with Susie's parents and move in with her mother.

Dan becomes increasingly reliant on his drug habit. He turns to Susie for help but she calls him a coward. Patrick meets Sean's mother Ann Connell and a family secret is revealed. The staff attends a hospital party and Daisy gives Brendan a makeover, with startling results.

Patrick's long-running case with Seán, plus his constant work load, takes its toll on his own mental health. In addition he has to face Seán's father who resents the disruption caused to his family life by the disclosure of the secret. The usually calm Patrick shocks everyone by his behaviour.