Hesitant nursing assistant Jane Sutton arrives at the convent as Jenny is seconded to hospital work, meeting Jimmy, who, to her surprise, is one of the patients. Arrogant surgeon Aubrey Tracy misdiagnoses Jimmy and an operation is required, where Jenny acquits herself well. She also sees that Tracy is himself ill and he resigns. Meanwhile aggressive twins Meg and Maeve Carter - both married to the hen-pecked Sid - arrive at the clinic as Maeve is pregnant. However they eschew modern medicine for old herbal remedies and, following a bleak tarot card reading, the over-bearing Meg scares her sister into refusing hospital admission. Ultimately Maeve senses that she needs professional care and allows the midwives in for a home birth - where a new generation of twins is born.

As Jenny takes compassionate leave after Alec's death and Sister Julienne collapses with exhaustion Shelagh returns to help out and efficient nurse Patsy Mount arrives. They start to plan for a party to mark the jubilee of Sister Evangelina taking holy orders but are interrupted by irate Mrs Harper, whose daughter Sally, a young woman with Downs Syndrome, is pregnant. The father, cerebral palsy sufferer Jacob, lives in the same residential home and they declare that they are in love and aim to marry but the baby is stillborn and Jacob is sent to another home. News of Evangelina's celebration attracts her brother Vincent, now an alcoholic tramp, and she steals food for him and sees him admitted to hospital, but her party goes ahead - despite her protests - and the community shows their appreciation of her work over the years.

Patsy's brusque manner sees her taken off midwifery duties and reassigned to district nursing, where a patient reminds her of her past. Meanwhile, Trixie deals with a couple whose relationship has separated them from their families.

Jenny returns and is seconded to the London Hospital, where she meets a fretting mother-to-be. Meanwhile, Chummy's mother visits, a patient of Cynthia's becomes mentally ill, and Tom's nervousness leads to trouble with Trixie.

Chummy struggles to cope with her mother's terminal illness, with her experience affecting Sister Monica Joan greatly. Meanwhile, Shelagh and Patrick receive encouraging news, and Jenny makes an important decision.

As Christmas approaches, Chummy and Trixie are organizing a concert. Meanwhile, Patsy takes a pair of pregnant girls to a mother-and-baby home which proves to be ill run, and Cynthia is conflicted about her future.

A new midwife arrives at Nonnatus House, and finds it hard to fit into her new role. Meanwhile, Chummy moves into the mother-and-baby home, Trixie helps a young boy in terrible need, and Sister Evangelina is in denial about her illness.

As Sister Evangelina prepares to go on sick leave, a new midwife arrives at Nonnatus House, and they immediately clash. Meanwhile, Sister Julienne encounters a face from the past, and Barbara feels under pressure.

As dysentery sweeps through the area Trixie takes on her first official duty since her engagement to vicar Tom by organizing the Rose of Poplar contest whilst Phyllis is concerned for sickly Dolores McEvoy, who is living in a filthy hostel apart from her husband but is too ashamed to give the address. When Phyllis locates the hostel she also finds the source of the dysentery. Meanwhile young father-to-be Tony Amos is the victim of police entrapment when he goes cruising in a men's toilet. Dr Turner speaks up for him when he is taken to court but, although prison is avoided, bigoted attitudes make life difficult for him and his wife and the nurses' opinions are divided.

Sister Winifred meets a young prostitute and begins a campaign to improve the lives of women like her, Trixie reconsiders her engagement when Tom is offered a post in Newcastle, and Sister Monica Joan is unexpectedly called into action.

Sister Mary Cynthia returns to Nonnatus House, Barbara has trouble communicating with a pregnant Sylheti woman, Shelagh helps Patrick with his exhausting workload, and Trixie struggles to cope with her pain.

Phyllis deals with a diabetic teenager who has fallen pregnant, Sister Mary Cynthia comes into contact with a group of Irish Travellers, and Patsy organizes a square dance to raise money for the Cubs' trip to Norfolk.

A pair of school friends are unexpectedly reunited in the delivery room, and a mix up results in complications for both. Meanwhile, Barbara helps a couple in need of assistance, and Patsy's secret relationship with Delia pains them both.

Trixie and Sister Mary Cynthia help a deaf-and-dumb woman, and Barbara has a baffling case. Meanwhile, Fred's daughter arrives from Birmingham and interferes with his and Violet's engagement, and Delia has a proposal for Patsy.

As Christmas approaches, an outbreak of measles hits Poplar. Meanwhile, Tom receives an intriguing offer from the BBC, a face from Patsy's past returns, and Sister Monica Joan goes missing.

As Easter approaches, the nuns prepare for celebrations, Trixie is taken up with a new exercise class, Patsy awaits Delia's decision, and the group are shaken by the birth of a severely deformed baby.

Barbara has difficulty in working out how best to help a young woman whose husband is out of work, Sister Evangelina's strong opinions lead to trouble, and Phyllis attends a Spanish class, with unexpected results.

One of Patsy's patients is diagnosed with typhoid, which reignites painful memories, Sister Winifred is deeply affected by the case of an unwed mother-to-be and Tom asks Barbara out to dinner.

Tom and Trixie work together to help a young couple, Barbara wrestles with her conscience, and Sister Julienne is seconded to a maternity hospital, where she discovers the emergence of a worrying pattern.

Phyllis becomes concerned about a new mother who is finding it difficult to cope, Fred must step in to help run the shop when Violet is injured, while Timothy makes Patrick have a realization.

A series of attacks on young women in Poplar has a direct impact on the residents of Nonnatus House, Trixie is suspicious about a patient whose pregnancy has not been reported, while Patrick and Shelagh take a trip.

As news of the forthcoming contraceptive pill reaches Poplar, it is met with different reactions by the residents of Nonnatus House. Meanwhile, Patsy tries to help a barge woman unused to life on land, and a storm hits Poplar.

Patrick is horrified to learn that a medication prescribed to expectant mothers may be the cause of the recent birth defects in Poplar, while the Nonnatus House residents and the community at large are devastated when tragedy strikes.

A group from Nonnatus House travels overseas in order to assist a struggling clinic in South Africa.

The Nonnatus House staff face great change, Phyllis and Barbara help a battered wife, while Sister Mary Cynthia becomes increasingly fragile.

An explosion at the docks badly affects the husband of a new mother, Patsy feels under pressure, and Sister Ursula continues to test the patience of everyone at Nonnatus House.

A new contraceptive clinic adjacent to the Nonnatus maternity unit causes trouble, while an unexpected letter to Barbara sends everyone into a frenzy.

As Sister Evangelina prepares to go on sick leave, a new midwife arrives at Nonnatus House, and they immediately clash. Meanwhile, Sister Julienne encounters a face from the past, and Barbara feels under pressure.

The Nonnatus House staff face great change, Phyllis and Barbara help a battered wife, while Sister Mary Cynthia becomes increasingly fragile.

As Jenny takes compassionate leave after Alec's death and Sister Julienne collapses with exhaustion Shelagh returns to help out and efficient nurse Patsy Mount arrives. They start to plan for a party to mark the jubilee of Sister Evangelina taking holy orders but are interrupted by irate Mrs Harper, whose daughter Sally, a young woman with Downs Syndrome, is pregnant. The father, cerebral palsy sufferer Jacob, lives in the same residential home and they declare that they are in love and aim to marry but the baby is stillborn and Jacob is sent to another home. News of Evangelina's celebration attracts her brother Vincent, now an alcoholic tramp, and she steals food for him and sees him admitted to hospital, but her party goes ahead - despite her protests - and the community shows their appreciation of her work over the years.

Barbara has difficulty in working out how best to help a young woman whose husband is out of work, Sister Evangelina's strong opinions lead to trouble, and Phyllis attends a Spanish class, with unexpected results.

A series of attacks on young women in Poplar has a direct impact on the residents of Nonnatus House, Trixie is suspicious about a patient whose pregnancy has not been reported, while Patrick and Shelagh take a trip.

A pair of school friends are unexpectedly reunited in the delivery room, and a mix up results in complications for both. Meanwhile, Barbara helps a couple in need of assistance, and Patsy's secret relationship with Delia pains them both.

A new midwife arrives at Nonnatus House, and finds it hard to fit into her new role. Meanwhile, Chummy moves into the mother-and-baby home, Trixie helps a young boy in terrible need, and Sister Evangelina is in denial about her illness.

Phyllis deals with a diabetic teenager who has fallen pregnant, Sister Mary Cynthia comes into contact with a group of Irish Travellers, and Patsy organizes a square dance to raise money for the Cubs' trip to Norfolk.

As Christmas approaches, an outbreak of measles hits Poplar. Meanwhile, Tom receives an intriguing offer from the BBC, a face from Patsy's past returns, and Sister Monica Joan goes missing.

Sister Mary Cynthia returns to Nonnatus House, Barbara has trouble communicating with a pregnant Sylheti woman, Shelagh helps Patrick with his exhausting workload, and Trixie struggles to cope with her pain.