Nonnatus House has weathered many storms over the years. After all, we don’t have a compelling drama like Call the Midwife without the team working together to save their jobs and a place for mothers to call a temporary home. However, Call the Midwife Season 15 has delivered a blow, especially when you consider the way history plays out.
Set in the early 1970s, there is a push for more women’s rights, but it’s not that causing the problem for the midwives and nuns of Nonnatus House. At the end of the Call the Midwife Season 15 premiere, Trixie learned that the NHS will take over the running of everything, and that means a lot of change for Nonnatus House.
What Does the NHS Taking Over Mean on Call the Midwife Season 15?
As Dr. Threapwood explained to Trixie, with the NHS taking over fully, it will mean that the nuns will have to remove their habits. Nonnatus House won’t have the freedom to work in the way it always has, and the religious order won’t be permitted to practice in the way that it has.
This changes things slightly, even for those who aren’t part of the religious order in full. The other midwives will need to follow every single NHS guideline, and right now, they get away with a little leeway now and then when they need it. Right now, the council oversees Nonnatus House, but everyone will end up working for the NHS, or they will need to leave what they love to do.
It’s harder on the nuns, as they need to choose between the work they’re doing and leaving their calling. Sister Veronica seems to be considering leaving the religious order, as she mentioned that she would like a child of her own, but Sister Julienne is sure that her Sisters will not remove their habits or leave their work because of some rule set forth by the NHS.
This changes everything for the women of Poplar, as well. While they will still get the same midwives caring for them — or at least, some of the same, depending on who leaves the Order — they won’t necessarily get the same care. After all, the NHS will have strict rules, targets, and budgets to consider.
Is There a Way Around the Situation for Nonnatus House?
The bad news is that there doesn’t seem to be a way around this. Call the Midwife is following much of history, and in 1974, the NHS did take over. It was viewed as a failed takeover, but it still happened. So, it looks like this change has to come, and there’s little way to keep Nonnatus House as it is today.
It’s going to put more strain on the midwives who do stay. There will be more red tape, and there will be more paperwork. Midwife care won’t be the same as it was once before, and for two years, this mess will be in place until the Royal Commission is called in to take a look at the mess.
The only option is to find a way to keep the religious order. This could be changing the way Nonnatus House works, and it could mean separating the different sides. How that happens isn’t clear, so it’s worth staying in tune throughout Call the Midwife Season 15 to find out.
What do you think of the current storyline for Call the Midwife Season 15? How do you think the show could save the day? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Call the Midwife Season 15 airs on Sundays at 8/7c on PBS.
