Ruhma Carter (also Hanif) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera Doctors, portrayed by Bharti Patel. Ruhma's storylines in the programme have included her relationship with, and dealing the subsequent death of Heston Carter (Owen Brenman), dealing with her partial deafness, supporting her children through various issues with the police and being suspended from her job. Ruhma is characterised as a forthright, opinionated and working class character with an unexpected "grim past". Her backstory involved being involved in an abusive marriage which she had to flee from with her children. That experience, alongside raising her children as a single mother and her husband Heston dying, left Ruhma finding solace in her job as a midwife. When she is temporarily suspended from her job, scenes of Ruhma going through her lowest point aired. For her portrayal of Ruhma, Patel has received various award nominations, including the British Soap Awards for Best Newcomer and Best Actress.