Consultant surgeon Sheila Sabatini rules her operating theatre with a sharp tongue and a withering sense of humour. Her dedication and determination to succeed in a male-dominated world make her a force to be reckoned with, and her colleagues at the Gillies Hospital have learned the hard way not to mess with her! Sheila's intimidating manner may hide a soft centre, but only those who dare to get close enough discover that; they include Deputy Unit Manager and best friend, Joyce, and anaesthetist Jonathan Haslam, a man brave enough to pursue a romantic relationship with the spiky Mrs. Sabatini...

Nichola McAuliffe gives a memorable performance as Sheila Sabatini, with Duncan Preston starring alongside her as Jonathan Haslam. Surgical Spirit was a huge success with the viewing public, running for seven series between 1989 and 1995. This seventh and final series was originally screened in 1995.