Call the Midwife season 12 episode 5 spoilers follow.
Nonnatus House seems to be getting a bad reputation these days. These rebellious nuns and their midwives have rubbed the Board of Health up the wrong way with their penchant for doing things their way (which in our books is the right way).
First, nurse Phyllis Crane was in deep waters last week when her directness got her noticed for all the wrong reasons and there was talk of forced retirement. Thankfully, Nonnatus managed to skirt around that spot of trouble and kept one of its most valuable staff members.
But it seems as though its luck has run out, as the Board has put its foot down and is insisting significant changes be made.
If only Fred (Cliff Parisi) had kept his mouth shut, because yes, the jack-of-all-trades handyman is responsible for highlighting just how much the Sisters have torn up the rule book.
During an inspection from Threepwood, the Chairman of the board, Fred is caught fixing some medical equipment for the Sisters.
When asked if he is a specialist Fred says no, before letting slip that he fixes a lot of things for the Sisters.
"Nothing wrong with a little make, do and mend," he smiles, not noticing that the sentiment is not well received.
Fred then continues on in this loose-lipped vein, offering up the fact that Nonnatus' rent, furniture and midwives wages are supplemented by the "friendly millionaire".
He is, of course, referring to Trixie's fiancé Matthew Aylward (Olly Rix).
Threepwood's curdled face is enough to demonstrate that Fred has said too much.
To be fair, it's not all his fault. The board has been breathing down Nonnatus' neck for a while now. Most notably when Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) lent her support to doctor Turner (Stephen McGann) when they questioned his decision to lock down the hospital and quarantine the patients during an outbreak of gastroenteritis, and then again in the same episode with Nurse Crane as mentioned.
They are a grumpy old lot, but they're a grumpy old lot with a lot of power, and it seems how Nonnatus is funded is the tip of the iceberg.
When Threepwood finally meets with Sister Julienne he expresses his displeasure with Nonnatus, stating: "Nonnatus House is financially inefficient and too dependent on the resources of the Turner practice, which we also have in our sights."
Oof. He continues:
"You both use dangerous unskilled labour for maintenance" – oh, Fred – "you are currently only operational because of private charity".
Sister Julienne leans into her faith, describing charity as another word for love. She begins to express that she is amazed at what the Lord can do with love as his currency, but she's cut short. Even prayer won't save her on this occasion.
"It is 1968," Threepwood admonishes her with a scoff, "love is no longer a legitimate currency."
He then interrupts her when she disagrees with this statement, before laying down some new terms.
Threepwood announces that Nonnatus House is to lose its agency status and its autonomy, leaving all staff members directly under the employment of the health services.
He appears to take great pleasure in highlighting the fact that this very service has the power to close Nonnatus "as and when it deems appropriate".
The only thing left to be decided is when this will all take effect, as the date has not been set.
Though she takes the news in her stride, it's a huge blow for Sister Julienne, and could turn out to be for fans of the show.
Could it be that the trouble that has been brewing between Nonnatus and the Board of Health has all been to steer the show towards its final days?
A muzzled Nonnatus, unable to deliver the care it's so passionate about in the way it feels is in the best interest of patients, doesn't sit with the spirited nuns and nurses we've come to know and love.
Fighting for the rights of those patients until the bitter end seems more fitting, though.
So is Call the Midwife really coming to an end? The show's writer Heidi Thomas did admit that Call the Midwife could go as far as the '70s. However the '70s aren't that far ahead with season 12 being set, as Threepwood so kindly announced, in 1968.
Thomas did add that the order of nuns on whom the Nonnatus staff are based did go on until 1976. While that means the fans could potentially have another eight years to go, it's unlikely (though not unheard of) that the show will go on until its 20th series, which means a time jump or two may be on the cards.
The show has been commissioned for at least another season, so this could be Thomas' way of laying the groundwork for a meaningful, tearjerker of an ending.
However despite being in its 12th season, Thomas does seem keen to keep the fire burning for Call the Midwife, saying: "There are so many stories to tell, medically, socially, even emotionally, and I think we could keep on going."
For now, at least we still have season 13 to look forward to…
Call the Midwife season 12 airs every Sunday at 8pm on BBC One, and streams on BBC iPlayer.
![Call The Midwife - Series 11 [DVD] [2022]](https://hips.hearstapps.com/vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1641397939-41mD8rv9maL._SL500_.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=320%3A%2A "Call The Midwife - Series 11 [DVD] [2022]")
