15 January 2024 , 08:40
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Viewers of Call the Midwife were left shocked by scenes in Sunday's episode (January 14), comparing the distressing mouldy flat storyline to current times.
The episode, set in 1969, follows expectant mum Edna who worked as a cleaner and refused to quit her job despite being pregnant because she needed the money.
Edna revealed that her partner had abandoned her for another woman, leaving her to support her young toddler and new baby alone, including paying rent on her council property. While cleaning the community hall, Edna's waters broke but she was determined to finish her work so she wouldn't lose her wages.
Later, Shelagh Turner (Laura Main) and trainee midwife Joyce Highland (Renee Bailey) helped deliver Edna's new baby boy, initially named Alistair, before changing his name to Nicholas. However, when Sister Veronica (Rebecca Gethings) visited Edna, she noticed that Edna's young daughter Tracey had developed a severe cough.
Fans compared the scenes to modern day (BBC)Sister Veronica insisted Edna call an ambulance while she tried to help Tracey. As she looked around the bedroom, she was horrified to see the walls covered in thick black toxic mould, revealing the terrible state of the flat.
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Tracey was quickly taken to hospital, placed in an oxygen tent and given antibiotics. Sister Veronica told Edna that her daughter's wheezy bronchitis was caused by the mould in their flat. She also said they would have to wait 24 hours to see if Tracey would pull through.
Cyril Robinson (Zephryn Taitte) saw the poor state of Edna's home while the nurses urged her to accept social security help. Cyril reassured the worried mum that society wouldn't let her children down. After Tracey was allowed to leave the hospital, Edna's flat was fixed up and redecorated. But viewers watching the emotional episode of Call the Midwife compared Edna's living conditions to the awful ones some people still endure in 2024.
One viewer posted on X: "The mould on that wall and the little girl's cough as a result of it could be straight out of 2024 #CallTheMidwife". Another said: "#CallTheMidwife highlighting disgraceful mould and damp in properties. Horrific that fifty-plus years later housing associations and councils are still not giving a damn about these families."
A third viewer wrote: " Watching tonight's episode of #CallTheMidwife showing the living environment with mould on the walls and the councils only response is to paint over it. Unfortunately, it is the same attitude these days, there is mould in every room in the council house I live."
"So sad today in 2024 families rent homes with mould like this! #CallTheMidwife", one viewer commented. Another exclaimed: "Mould + oxygen tents + nurses strikes - tonight's #CallTheMidwife could have been set today!"
Call the Midwife is on every Sunday at 8pm on BBC One.
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