Series on South Pacific Television about doctors and staff of the Edgar Health Centre, Herne Bay Auckland — their lives and work.
Donna Akersten as Dr Kate Copeland, Waric Slyfield as Dr Roger Gibson
1) Casualties (5/4/1977)

Dr Gibson does not share the radical views of Vic Charles on the extent of a doctor's responsibilities. Tom Brooke and Kate Copeland see different sides of the personality of a patient, Alice Vanden, and have conflicting views on their own emotional relationship
Dr Roger Gibson - Waric Slyfield
Dr Tom Brooks - Robin Bowering
Dr Kate Copeland - Donna Akersten
Dr Harold Priest - Ian Watkin
Sister Mavis North - Myra De Groot
Jane Harding - Ilona Rodgers
Alice Vandene - Vivienne Riddle
Dr Vic Charles - Bevan Wilson
Snaith - Merv Smith
Designer - Lindsay Waugh
Executive Producer - Bill Cole
Director - Brian Mc Duffie
2) Just One More (11/4/1977)
Roger Gibson is preoccupied with the search for a new partner. His son David has another kind of problem - with drug addiction and loyalty to friends or family.
Dr Roger Gibson - Waric Slyfield
Dr Tom Brooks - Robin Bowering
Dr Kate Copeland - Donna Akersten
Dr Harold Priest - Ian Watkin
Sister Mavis North - Myra De Groot
Jane Harding - Ilona Rodgers
Davis Gibson - Simon Phillips
Mrs Gibson - Elizabeth Mc Rae
Peter - Peter Powel
Sarah - Katherine Cavalcante
Dr Harrison - John Atha
Mrs Harrison - Ngaire Horton
Designer - Lindsay Waugh
Executive Producer - Bill Cole
Director - Peter Sharp
3) Daddy's Girl (19/4/1977)
Bob Johnson Is in a dilemma when Carol Morris asks him whether she should love her father, and how much
Dr Roger Gibson - Waric Slyfield
Dr Tom Brooks - Robin Bowering
Dr Kate Copeland - Donna Akersten
Dr Harold Priest - Ian Watkin
Sister Mavis North - Myra De Groot
Jane Harding - Ilona Rodgers
Beryl Morris - Berys Marsh
Keith Morris - Norman Forsey
Carol Morris - Camille Richards
Emily Parkinson - Yvonne Lawley
Robert Parkinson - Laurie Dee
Designer - Lindsay Waugh
Executive Producer - Bill Cole
Director - Peter Sharp
4) Siege (26/4/1977)
Tom Brooke encounters a growing form of violence in our society and when Harold Priest is called out at night, he finds himself in a macabre situation
Dr Roger Gibson - Waric Slyfield
Dr Tom Brooks - Robin Bowering
Dr Harold Priest - Ian Watkin
Jane Harding - Ilona Rodgers.
Ms Parker - Mary De Koster
Mrs Simpson - Lynette Perry
Elizabeth Priest - Merilyn Hey
Sgt Connelly - Les Hunt
Lecturer - Michele Hearn
Designer - Lindsay Waugh
Executive Producer - Bill Cole
Director - Peter Sharp
5) Old Flame (3/5/1977)

A surprise for Kate Copeland when an old friend turns up; and shocks for Tim Brooke and Jane Harding when they learn the results of certain tests.
Dr Roger Gibson - Waric Slyfield
Dr Tom Brooks - Robin Bowering
Dr Harold Priest - Ian Watkin
Jane Harding - Ilona Rodgers.
Dr Kate Copeland - Donna Akersten
Steve Malvern - Peter Bool
Mike Harding - Steven Williams
Bob Asutley - Johnny Johnstone
Designer - Lindsay Waugh
Executive Producer - Bill Cole
Director - Peter Sharp
6) Night Calls (10/5/1977)
It 's Dr Copeland's turn for taking night calls but an ordinary, quiet night turns into a nightmare for Kate and Jane.
Dr Roger Gibson - Waric Slyfield
Dr Tom Brooks - Robin Bowering
Dr Harold Priest - Ian Watkin
Jane Harding - Ilona Rodgers.
Dr Kate Copeland - Donna Akersten
Miss Petrie - Pamela Merwood
Willie McLeod - Norman Fletcher
Maty Robbins - Ruth Lyster
Tod Robbins - Richard Moss
Designer - Lindsay Waugh
Executive Producer - Bill Cole
Director - Peter Sharp
7) The Cost of Living (17/5/1977)
Sally wants an abortion and her boyfriend wants her to have the baby. Pro and anti abortion factions are gathering and the resulting scandal involves Tom Brooke's affair with Kate Copeland and the good name of the practice.(Final)
Dr Tom Brooks - Robin Bowering
Dr Kate Copeland - Donna Akersten
Sally - Jacquui Dunn
Tony - Grant Mangakahla
Mrs Re Mani - Errice Montague
Mr Sands - Bruce Allpress
Mrs Wilburs - Gabrielle Dean
Commander Masley - Ernie Stanly
Designer - Lindsay Waugh
Executive Producer - Bill Cole
Director - Peter Sharp
Medical series set in Auckland
Press, 24 August 1976
A new locally-produced drama series with a medical theme is now in the making at TV2’s drama department in Auckland. The series is still under a working title, "Practice’’, and consists of seven one hour plays, ail based on a fictional group medical practice in Auckland’s Herne Bay. Each self-contained story shows the doctors dealing with the medical problems occurring in a racially and socio - economically mixed suburb and also the conflicts arising out of the professional and emotional relationships of the doctors themselves.
The series will not be screened until next year but recording will begin in September and the executive producer, Bill Cole, has now cast most of the lead roles. Donna Akersten, who played the odd-ball farm girl, Grace, in “A Going Concern” will be the only female partner in the practice. Ilona Rodgers, holder of the Feltex Award for Best N.Z. Actress, and who will also be shortly seen in “"Hunters Gold”, is a receptionist. Waric Slyfield. a longtime stalwart of the Mercury Theatre, plays the senior partner in the practice. lan Watkin, recently seen on TVI in “Blerta”. “The Shiner” story of “Winners and Losers (1976)” and as the school teacher in “Epidemic”, plays a doctor, a role some viewers will remember him playing in the successful N.Z.B.C. series “Pukemanu”.
Myra de Groot, another familiar face on New Zealand screens, plays the practice nurse and David McKenzie, a regular member of the Centrepoint Theatre Co. in Palmerston North plays a doctor The regular cast is completed by Robin Bowering. an English actor with numerous credits in repertory and West End Theatres and a number of television series. For the last few years he has pursued a successful career in Australian theatre and television and has just completed an extended season at Sydney’s brand new Theatre Royal.
'Practice” was created by John Banas and Bill Baer from an initial suggestion by South Pacific Television s Head of Drama. John Mcßae. Banas wrote "Bwana” in the "Immigrants" series, and Baer has had plays accepted be Radio New Zealand. Other writers have also worked on the series and their themes and plots have been interwoven in the seven plays. Members of the medical profession were consulted frequently to ensure that medical and social accuracy was combined with dramatic action. The series will be recorded at South Pacific Television's Auckland studios and at various locations in the city The directors will be Brian McDuffie and Peter Sharp.
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