Doctors use their expert knowledge of medicine to diagnose, treat, and prevent illnesses and injuries in patients. They work in a variety of settings, from local health centres to hospitals, and their responsibilities include prescribing medications, carrying out tests, diagnosing conditions, and providing guidance and support.
There are many different types of Doctor, including physicians, paediatricians, surgeons, and oncologists. Physicians usually work in hospitals and deal with patients who have been referred to them by GPs. They can diagnose what is wrong with a patient by talking to them about their symptoms, examining them, and organising investigations like x-rays or blood tests. They also treat patients with drugs, and they may perform more complex surgical procedures.
Paediatricians specialise in treating children and young people with a wide range of conditions, from birth defects to mental health problems. These doctors are particularly important in the early stages of life, when they can help children to develop and grow into healthy adults. Surgeons are specialists who perform medical operations, such as removing tumours or broken bones. They may also use targeted radiation or chemotherapy to treat cancer patients.
As the first female Time Lord, Whittaker had a lot to live up to. But she threw herself into her role with the kind of unquenchable optimism that made the show’s best incarnations so much fun to watch. Hurt wowed in his short run as the gruff, wisecracking Fourth Doctor. He brought a swagger that could have come across as misplaced bravado in lesser hands to one of the show’s most ruthless characters.