The lives of the Ward 17 staff are about to change forever when an emotional Sophie battles her father-in-law to retain custody of her two young boys. With her best friends being used against her in a seemingly unwinnable custody fight, Sophie, in her desperation, makes a drastic decision about her children's future. Bron becomes emotionally involved in the fate of a car accident victim and his young daughter. Jared is an unlikely ally when a patient returns to Ward 17 for an operation he is determined will enable him to walk again.
Having responded to the scene of Sophie's car accident, Ben is having difficulty coming to terms with the aftermath of treating people he knows. Sophie and her children have survived the head-on collision resulting from her impaired driving but her friends are even more shocked when her desperate actions the night before come to light. Refusing to lose custody of her children to the man who raised her husband, Sophie confronts her father-in-law from her hospital bed putting Terri and Peter in the middle of a siege situation that will change eveyone's life. Meanwhile, Bron's fundraising netball game disintegrates when some personal agendas come into play on the court and Von's New Year's resolution seems destined to go up in smoke. A comment in the OR results in a nurse filing a report against Luke for negligence.
Terri struggles to deal with what has happened to her friends Sophie and Peter. Bron learns about the hierarchy in the ambulance organisation when she finds herself under the supervision of a strict training officer. Having been confined to desk work while recovering from his Post Traumatic Stress, Ben confronts his demons when he resuscitates a girl at a local shopping mall. Jared and Samantha's blossoming romance is tested when they disagree on a patient's diagnosis. Despite downplaying the honour publicly, Von is secretly thrilled to be chosen as Employee of the Month. Connor ignores pleas to seek treatment for his bad back — until he sets eyes on Lily, the gorgeous acupuncturist.
A busy day on the ward turns to chaos when the Health Minister is brought in as a patient. Experiencing first-hand the demands on the public health system, the Minister is sympathetic to the needs of the nursing staff but can offer nothing more than an expression of support. A lack of beds on the ward means a patient is left to recover from her operation on a trolley in the corridor. Despite protests from Steph, Luke is authorised to send the patient home early — a decision that has disastrous consequences. Terri struggles to help a Peter cope with his disabilities. Discouraged by his prognosis for recovery, Peter has difficulty adjusting to life in the hospital as a patient. Connor's visit to Lily, the beautiful acupuncturist, has embarrassing repercussions.
Terri's emotional equilibrium is tipped when an old flame and colleague, Dr. Mitch Stevens, returns to All Saints after a ten year absence. She is confronted with her past and he delights in stirring the pot. Jaz is forced to make a decision about her pregnancy while Terri and Steph have a confrontation over the issue. Jared sticks to his old-fashioned romantic ideas in his quest to win Samantha's affections. Connor's life is made difficult by a female truck driver while Ben is forced to deal with an emergency situation while on an abseiling course.
Mitch Stevens' unorthodox doctoring style brings tension — and humour — to Terri's ward. He steps on many toes as he goes but his decisions prove to be life-saving. Ben's first day back on the job as a paramedic brings unanticipated challenges for Bron when a young mother suffers an horrific tractor accident. Samantha O'Hara suffers a crisis of confidence when she makes a diagnostic mistake which affects her budding relationship with Jared while Connor becomes the unwitting pawn in a lapdancer's manipulative game. Terri steps in to care for Peter when he dismisses his homecare nurse.
In an episode about dependence between friends, partners and workmates, dependence takes the form of teamwork, friendship and co-operation for some, while for others it is a reminder of a lack of independence. A street kid holds Mitch hostage in an attempt to abduct his junkie friend from Ward 17. Bron and Ben are faced with a complicated premature childbirth which tests Bron and brings up painful memories for Ben. Terri tries to help Peter cope with his trying day as a hospital out-patient. Connor suspects a budding romance between two patients. Von's Employeee of the Month honour garners her more unwanted attention.
When a Jehovah's Witness patient is admitted for treatment, Terri and Luke find themselves on opposing sides of an ethical dilemma. Bron is forced to make some difficult decisions in order to save a life when she is caught up in an armed robbery. Mitch is devastated by the unexpected death of a patient despite his furious efforts to resuscitate her. Conner scores a double date with a surprising conclusion.
The ward is thrown into turmoil when a patient who claims to be psychic says she spoke to the ghost of Sophie Williams who comforted her through the night. The woman's claims and the associated media coverage keep the staff on edge but the arrival of one young visitor pushes Von over the edge. Terri finds herself torn between her duty as a nurse and as a nun when she tries to help a young patient confused about his sexuality. Bron and Jared find life steamy at home when Connor has a house call from Lily. Peter gets more than he bargained for when he wallows in self-pity once too often.
Peter is pushed to the limit when his life seems to be falling apart and he considers taking drastic measures. Samantha and Jared suspect a son of drugging his father but their differing approachs to the case serves to highlight their different backgrounds. Ben decides he can't wait for Steph to come around to the idea of having children and makes a momentous decision. While running the ward, Steph sends the staff mad when she takes her study too seriously. Jared and Samantha's relationship is made public, much to Jared's surprise. Luke leads a group of students on rounds and Mitch find the proper motivation to aid a patient's recovery.
