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FEATURE ONLINE TRAINING


BY DESIGN I


BLEAK


Joanne Curran goes behind the scenes during filming for the latest episode of GP drama series Bleak Practice


TIPTOE in the back door of the medical practice just as an anxious patient is telling his GP about a recent trip to hospital with chest pains. The doctor shifts uneasily in his seat as the man reminds him he has sought advice from him on a number of previous occasions for the same issue. The look of mild panic on his face suggests the GP is wondering whether he missed a diagnosis. Should he have referred the patient for specialist help sooner? It’s a tense scene but rest assured that no patient confidentiality


was breached during the writing of this article. The anxious patient, Mr Martin, and his GP Dr Wright are two central characters in the forthcoming sixth episode of MDDUS’ flagship GP drama series Bleak Practice, an online risk learning resource that has proved immensely popular amongst UK medical practices. Exclusively for MDDUS members, each 15-minute instalment focuses on key risk areas in day-to-day clinical practice and is accompanied by a discussion guide that lets teams work through the films in their own practices at their own pace.


SETTING THE SCENE Filming for this latest drama-packed instalment takes place over two days at a real GP practice in Glasgow while it is closed for the weekend.


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I arrive just as the scene is finishing another take, being careful not to make any noise that could be picked up by the microphones placed around the consulting room by sound recordist Alan Henry. Director Brendan Smith, of video production company Enterprise Screen, is keeping a close eye on the action alongside producer Gavin Hopkins. The small consulting room is filled with expensive-looking lighting,


cameras, monitors and sound equipment and the actors and crew gingerly step around the coil of wires and tripod legs dotted across the floor. Just outside the doctor’s office is MDDUS risk adviser and Bleak scriptwriter Alan Frame, who carefully listens for any inaccuracies or inconsistencies in dialogue. Senior risk adviser Liz Price also stands quietly in the hallway, overseeing the whole project with the help of team administrator and chief organiser Ann Fitzpatrick. Ann is well acquainted with Dr Wright, having had the dubious


pleasure of dying in episode two as ‘Mrs Hicks’ after the GP failed to check her test results. Indeed, being such a small production with a tight budget (the actors apply their own make-up and supply their own non-medical costumes), many MDDUS staff have served as extras and supporting characters over the years alongside the cast of paid actors. The films are truly a team effort.


BLEAK BEGINNINGS The idea of producing a filmed drama was first touted around five years ago when Liz Price and her risk education team received increasing numbers of requests from managers for learning resources they could access in their practices, at a time that suited them. Keen


AUTUMN 2018  ISSUE 19


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