Casualty exclusive: Jamie Glover on taking over from Nigel Harman as Holby ED’s ‘tough love’ clinical lead

“I was asked, which is always lovely. I was very happy and didn't didn't have to think twice! I started filming in September [2023] and it’s a lovely storyline to kick it off.”

“The only person I spoke to about it was Nigel Harman, who played the ED's previous clinical lead Max Cristie. He’s a pal and he gave me a heads up about it. He was quite right in saying that everybody's lovely and they'll look after you, which is exactly what happened.”

“Yes, and what I really liked about it when I read it, is that Patrick’s first episode is Rash’s first episode back. There's no big ‘Oh look, here's Patrick the new arrival!’ He’s been working at Holby ED for a week or two, is already part of the fabric and it's Rash that's playing catch up and wondering ‘who is that?’ It’s a really nice way of doing an introduction, as suddenly there's this guy who's just there and he's clearly in charge.” 

“He’s a really interesting character because he’s quite old school in both good and bad ways. He very much thinks ‘You get the job done with the facilities, personnel and funding you have, crack on with it and make it work.’ That might mean, sometimes, taking shortcuts or doing things slightly off the book. He's happy to cut a few corners if it means getting the job done and gets into a few tussles with people, thanks to his approach!”

“I really liked the fact that he just wants to get the job done and insists that people do things his way. If they do, then he’s as loyal as they come and will back them to the hilt, but he does expect loyalty. I like the grey areas of what that brings - it’s admirable in many ways, but problematic and others. And that's, that's like all of us, isn't it? We're all a bit complex.”

“Yes, Patrick immediately has a run in with Rash! I don't know how much I'm allowed to say but you probably know that Rash is in quite a delicate place when he comes back to work after taking some time out. He probably needs an arm around the shoulder, but Patrick's way of dealing with it is to say ‘throw yourself into the work because we need you’. He pushes him hard when he should be throttling back. It’s tough love.” 

“Neet is wonderful. He’s an absolute diamond and I love working with him. He’s very alive and in the moment, very thoughtful and always very well prepared. He’s great!” 

“Patrick is extremely accomplished and has been around the block. His speciality was trauma surgery, but he’s reached the point where he thinks that a 12-hour operation is a younger man’s game, which is why he’s taken up the clinical lead position at Holby ED.”

“Not much, no, because he's not got much baggage. I think this is how he's ended up here. He's work driven, and he has a couple of failed marriages and some older children who’ve left home. I suspect he doesn't have much of a personal life."

“I’m not saying anything! At this point it’s more professional sparks. There are going to be a few fireworks with clinical nurse manager Siobhan McKenzie (Melanie Hill), while senior consultant Dylan Keogh (William Beck) and Patrick are like two rams who lock horns. There’s respect between them, but a battle over who’s in charge too. Patrick can be quite black and white and uncompromising. He will just call it as he sees it, and I like that. He's not afraid to put people's backs up and I think that's to be admired, really, but maybe I would say that!”

“He’s a scrubs guy. But you do see him in a suit. An interesting thing about him is he's very good with management but he’s good with the people on the floor too. He'll tell people what they need to hear. He'll say the right thing to the suits upstairs, but then also be on the side of the team downstairs. There is a grey area there that he's not admitting to and it’s the grey area that he lives in that sometimes puts people's backs up, because on the floor they say ‘Well whose side are you on?’ I think he would slip that question and say I'm on both sides.”

“Patrick's the boss so they're not going to be mates, but it's no secret that some of the junior doctors look up to Patrick and he quite enjoys that.  I think they love him because he gives them a lot of responsibility. Maybe, in some people's eyes, a bit too much responsibility! But they love him for it, because they're getting to be doctors. It’s been lovely working with both Sammy and Manpreet.”

“It certainly feels like there's a buzz in the air. The scripts are very good, the storylines are interesting and all of the characters are engaging. There’s a terrific storyline later down the track that, I have to say, is really beautifully done by everybody involved…”