1895 年，人们不期望女性从事医学工作，甚至不了解医学。妇女被期望担任家庭主妇、母亲、教师和护士。一位女士决心改变这种状况。埃莉诺布拉姆威尔在赫伯特汉密尔顿爵士的监督下工作。她不开心。在他愚蠢地失去了一位非常健康的年轻母亲后，埃莉诺决定是时候在医学史上留下自己的印记了。受到医学同学的嘲笑和她父亲罗伯特布拉姆威尔医生的质疑，埃莉诺很快得到了一座翻新的建筑 - 由好心的科拉彼得斯夫人捐赠 - 并开始了她自己的医务室 - The Thrift。但是，尽管她遇到了重重困难，她能活下来吗？她会梦想成真吗？她的同事会信任她吗？

The series begins in 1895 with Dr. Eleanor Bramwell, working in a London hospital. She is treated as an inferior by the male doctors, and her opinions are often ignored. After a disagreement with a senior doctor, Eleanor is dismissed. Her father, Dr. Robert Bramwell, recommends she join him in his private practice of rich, elderly clients. Fortunately, Eleanor receives a better offer. Lady Peters, a friend of the family, offers to fund a small hospital in a London slum, where Eleanor will treat the impoverished locals. Together, Eleanor and Lady Peters establish The Thrift, a free hospital with six beds. The Thrift is named for its location on Thrift Street.