In October 2003, "Holby City" was praised by campaigners for the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), when an episode which coincided with "Learn To Sign Week" used deaf actors, and featured characters communicating through British Sign Language. RNID chief executive John Low stated: "Too often individuals have to rely on family members or friends to communicate complicated personal information to professionals. This is the reason the RNID is calling on the government to channel funding into the training of British Sign Language interpreters who could then be available to NHS staff treating deaf patients." Stokes commented: "The writer had a great story he wanted to tell – for us, that's what matters first and foremost."
In June 2004, Charles Allen, chief executive of ITV plc questioned the amount of funding spent on lengthened episodes of "Holby City",
A 2008 a Channel 4 report into ethnic diversity on television, cited "Holby City" as a positive example of "diverse British programm[ing]".
In January 2010, Janet Street-Porter in "The Independent", said "Holby City" had "come to the end of [its] natural life" and should be cancelled.
The show has been criticised for its lack of realism.
In February 2004, nurse Vici Hoban said that there were three nurse stereotypes. "Sex object, doctor's handmaiden, or angel". She felt that the media had increased these misconceptions. She said that with "the syringe-toting serial killer Kelly in "Holby City", realism has never been top of TV's agenda." Hoban felt that the worst offender at the time was the Channel 4 medical drama "No Angels". She described as: "so inaccurate that it makes "Holby City" look like a factual documentary."
In November 2009, Antony Sumara, CEO of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Hospital Trust, wrote a column criticising "Holby City" for misrepresenting real hospital life.
In December 2009, Tom Sutcliffe of "The Independent" reviewed an episode, finding it "astonishing" that any patients leave Holby General alive, as the staff are "so busy looking stricken or lovelorn at each other".
Misuse of alcohol has been criticised.
In December 2003, "The Times" Libby Purves wrote a critical opinion piece, observing that "Holby City" medical staff are often depicted getting drunk in clubs, but afterwards are able to function properly at work, and that as a result, alcohol "is made to look innocent".
In October 2004, Canon Kenyon Wright, chair of Alcohol Focus Scotland, criticised an episode of "Holby City" which saw doctors downing tequila slammers, stating that it glamorised irresponsible drinking.
In October 2007, drinks' industry body the Portman Group made an official complaint to communications regulator Ofcom about a scene in "Holby City" which depicted two medics drinking five shots of tequila following a stressful day at work. The body's chief executive David Poley claimed that in failing to show the negative consequences of this action, the series was presenting a "highly irresponsible portrayal of excessive and rapid drinking". Ofcom received a total of eight complaints about the incident.
"Holby City" has also been accused of medical inaccuracies.
In January 2004, the British Medical Association denounced an episode which showed organ donation being done despite withdrawal of consent by the patient's relatives. Dr Michael Wilks, chairman of the Medical Ethics Committee stated: "This simply would not happen, but its portrayal, even in a drama, is totally irresponsible and risks causing huge damage to the already struggling transplant programme."
In 2005, the British Medical Association said that the show was giving viewers an unrealistic impression of resuscitation by typically presenting only two outcomes, death or total recovery. Andrew Thomson, a Dundee GP, deemed this "a terrible distortion of the truth."
In 2009, "The Times", Vivienne Parry highlighted the fact that in reality, less than half of patients who require resuscitation survive the initial event. Of those, only a third live to leave hospital.
In April 2010, at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) conference in Bournemouth, "Holby City" was accused of fostering unrealistic expectations of the NHS, encouraging patients to believe in miracles and fuelling a compensation culture. Accident and Emergency nurse John Hill stated: "In A&E it is sometimes a fact that sadly we cannot get people through the trauma they have received. Unfortunately, unlike in "Holby City", I am a mere mortal and cannot perform miracles. But many relatives believe because of that, you can. And the injury lawyers assure them that if you don't they will get recompense for it."
In October 2000, Dr John Ryan, an Accident & Emergency consultant at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton criticised the number of patients visiting the department for minor problems without first seeing their GP. Ryan attributed this to patients watching "Holby City" and falsely seeing hospitals as glamorous.
In September 2008, a three-year Belgian research project, presented at a British Psychological Society meeting, claimed that watching "Holby City" and similar medical dramas such as "Casualty" and "ER" had a subliminal influence on fear of illness. 1,300 teenagers were questioned on their viewing habits, and those who watched more medical dramas were found to be up to 10% more fearful about their health.
In 2008, Conservative Party strategists identified four archetypes based on TV programmes to help the party target swing voters. Alongside ""Top Gear" man", ""Apprentice" generation" and ""Grand Designs" couple", they identified ""Holby City" worker", a middle-ranking health service worker. In 2009, they identified ""Holby City" woman" as a key voter demographic who may help the party win the 2010 General Election. The ""Holby City" woman" is a female voter in her 30s or 40s, employed in a clinical or clerical position or some other public sector job. She is a swing voter in General Elections, The ""Holby City" woman" archetype is modelled on the character of Faye Morton.
In January 2009, Jill Berry, president of the Girls' Schools Association and head teacher at the Dame Alice Harpur School in Bedford, cited medical dramas such as "Holby City" as an inspiring force in increasing numbers of female students deciding to pursue careers in medicine. Berry explained: "The girls see that as an exciting and dynamic way of life. They see it as making a difference to people's lives. It gives them a sense sometimes of the pressures, responsibility and adrenaline. Such TV programmes can be good, as long as they give a realistic impression." Similarly, consultant surgeon Andrew Raftery uses clips from "Holby City" as part of the University of Sheffield Outreach and Access to Medicine Scheme, to inspire pupils from under-represented social and educational backgrounds to pursue careers in medicine.
"Holby City" has been nominated for over 100 awards. It has won six.
The series has received five nominations for the British Academy Television Awards, winning one.
Minkie Spiro was nominated for the "Best New Director (Fiction)" award in 2003 for her work on the series.
The show was nominated for the "Best Continuing Drama" award in 2004, 2005 and 2006, winning in 2008.
"Holby City" received multiple BBC Drama Award nominations between 2002 and 2006. Its best results saw the show voted fifth "Best Drama" in 2004 and 2006.
Amanda Mealing was voted fourth "Best Actress" in 2006 for her role as Connie Beauchamp.
The ""Casualty@Holby City"" moment where doctor Jim Brodie (Maxwell Caulfield) sacrifices his life for midwife Rosie Sattar (Kim Vithana) was voted viewers' fourth "Favourite Moment" of 2004.
The series has been nominated for the "Best Drama" award at the "Inside Soap" Awards in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010