for his role as doctor browning, joseph thompson was nominated in the "newcomer" category at the 2013 national television awards. jaci stephen of the "daily mail" pondered whether "dr browning ever do a full day’s work of, well, doctoring? while the rest of the nhs claims to be underpaid and overworked, dr browning is having a breeze. if ever he has the incentive to write a prescription, please put out the bunting". stephen's colleague, claudia connel felt that soap operas could help give david cameron ideas to improve the nhs, noting that "dr browning in hollyoaks is even good enough to leave his office unlocked so patients can help themselves to whatever they fancy. drugs? a butcher’s at someone else’s medical notes? fill your boots".