fans took to X to bemoan the lack of facilities for special needs children after being affected by one of the storylines in the latest instalment (January 26) of the long running period drama.
Shelagh Turner (played by Laura Main) encountered a youngster called Andrew Trottwood (Teddy Berriman), who was severely disabled after contracting measles as a toddler.
His beleaguered mother, Jill (Joanna Horton), struggled with the flights of stairs up and down to their flat. She also told the nurse that Andrew’s bus to his special school had been cancelled, forcing her to keep him at home.
Although set in 1970, viewers couldn’t believe the parallels with the modern world and took to social media to vent. “Lack of Local Authority funding for special school education on #CallTheMidwife. Some things never change,” one fumed.
“I love that Call the Midwife has a go at current issues. Council funding issues with special schools. #callthemidwife,” another observed.
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Despite his special needs Andrew Trottwood had seen his school bus cancelled in Call The Midwife (Image: BBC)
A third chimed in: “Re the Andrew Story-How can 55 years have passed and SEND parents are still having to battle for basic necessities and an education for their kids. #CallTheMidwife.”
“This poor women and still nothing has changed for sen children and their families #callthemidwife,” a fourth agreed.
A fifth was shocked, commenting: “As a disabled person who went all the way through school and went to uni twice, it’s horrifying. #CallTheMidwife.”
Meanwhile, a sixth recalled their own mother’s similar struggles and paid tribute to her. “Jill Trottwood reminds me so much of my own powerhouse single mum – bouncing wheelchairs up and down stairs, advocating fiercely despite exhaustion (even in the 1990s!). I owe her everything I am today. Thank you @CallTheMidwife1 for showcasing parents like them! #CallTheMidwife.”
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Shelagh Turner became close to Andrew Trottwood and hsi mother on Call The Midwife (Image: BBC)
Andrew’s mother managed to make something positive of their situation when she encouraged other mothers to have their children vaccinated against measles.
Explaining he caught the disease before the vaccine existed she passionately advocated for people to utilise the free vaccination clinic.
She also had some light at the end of hte tunnelby the end of the episode after Mayor Violet Buckle (Annabel Apison) advocated on Andrew’s behalf.
The council wrote to inform her his bus would be reinstated so he could return to education in a school equipped to teach him.
Call The Midwife is on One on Sunday nights. All previous episodes are available to watch on iPlayer.