Malpractice series 2 on ITV is an uncomfortable watch, as it follows junior doctor James Ford through an incredibly tough shift - and the heartbreaking aftermath that follows.

Unsurprisingly, the five-parter has resonated profoundly with viewers who have applauded the series - and praised its depiction of a very real problem in the UK.

As the series continues on ITV - that's if you haven't binged it until the end already on ITVX - here's the "disgusting" truth about the plot of Malpractice.

A 'hard hitting' ITV drama

In series 2 of Malpractice, Dr James Ford is put in a seemingly impossible position. The on-call psychiatric registrar at mental health clinic Willows Ward, he is called to assess a new mum's mental health. However, his consultant has demanded he attend an urgent crisis instead - in which a pregnant woman needs to be sectioned.

Understandably perhaps, he cuts corners, rushes his diagnosis, and subsequently makes crucial mistakes. At the end of episode 1, new mum Rosie Newman was dead.

But was Dr Ford (Tom Hughes) to blame? Dr Norma Callahan and Dr George Adjei of the Medical Investigation Unit (MIU) began to investigate. But viewers had their own very decisive thoughts on the case...

Malpractice is an 'accurate reflection of NHS Mental Health Services'

One viewer wrote: "Yes, this really IS an accurate reflection of NHS Mental Health Services. It's a disgustingly tough sector to work in, horrendously under-staffed, worse-funded, meaning a total lack of resources, and treatment plans can taking YEARS! #Malpractice."

Another echoed the first, saying: "This is 100% accurately reflecting how disgustingly under-resourced NHS mental health services are. MHS is the worst-funded sector of the NHS!!! FACT!!!!!! #Malpractice."

A third added: "I'm only on episode 2 of Malpractice, but total hats off to the creators, producers, directors, and actors for such a sharp depiction of issues particularly in #MentalHealth but also the tension across the system! Spot on and I hope you get an award for it!"

"I've binged the entire new series of #Malpractice already and the way it captures life in a psychiatric ward is very true at times," said another. "Having experienced being in one before, it was triggering but also important to see how sadly some units are run!"

'The government should watch this'

Fans gathered on X to applaud the drama, and begged those in power to watch. One said: "The government should watch this and see how a) mental health is not over diagnosed and b) how stretched the services are."

Another added: "Enjoying #Malpractice. Despite the plot holes, they've tried to highlight the realities and done a decent job for a drama. P.S. presentation in postpartum psychosis can change very quickly."

A third wrote: "To be fair to the doctor, the mental health services are overstretched and under funded. He couldn't be in two places at once."

"This is going to be hard hitting," said another, "a very ill patient, and overworked overtired doctor. #Malpractice."

Lastly, one viewer said: "Whoever wrote this has had personal experience of MHS, or has been very close to someone who has, it's very, very accurate!!! MP'S TAKE NOTE!"

Malpractice series 2 writer Grace Ofori-Attah was a doctor

In fact, like the first series, Malpractice series 2 was written by Grace Ofori-Attah, who was a doctor for 15 years.

She worked as a consultant psychiatrist before moving to the world of TV. Talking about the world of psychiatry, one in which she had first-hand experience of, she told radiotimes.com: "I think it is a much more nuanced speciality."

Grace said: "Mental health is an area that isn't often depicted on TV, and I felt like we had a real opportunity to depict severe enduring mental illness accurately and really show what it's like to be in a psychiatric medical setting."

Talking about Rosie Newman's psychotic episode after having her baby, Grace added: "What I think is really important about Rosie's story is showing how a seemingly 'normal' person can become this unwell and can have been trying to contain it.

"I really wanted to show that this can happen to anybody. I think sometimes there's a sort of othering of people who have severe chronic mental illness, but it really can happen to anybody and it just needs to be managed with compassion and care."

In fact, Grace dealt with a very similar situation herself, when she turned up on a ward to a heavily pregnant patient who was "completely psychotic". It was one of her first jobs as a psychiatry registrar.

Talking about Rosie, Grace said: "You have a tiny woman who seems very calm and a bit placid earlier on, who later on is so aggressive, she could take them all out. I really was clear with World [Productions] that it's not an exaggeration to show her escalating like this."

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Malpractice series 2 is available to watch as a boxset on ITVX.