She develops close friendships with her colleagues, notably Adam Trueman (Tristan Gemmill), although Kirsty's brash personality also makes her clash with others.
Gaskell quit her role after a year of filming with the show and Kirsty departs in the twenty-fifth series episode "When You're Smiling", broadcast on 30 July 2011.
On 18 March 2010, it was announced that actress Lucy Gaskell had joined the show's cast as "fiery and vivacious mental health nurse" Kirsty Clements.
[1] Series producer, Oliver Kent, expressed his delight at Gaskell's casting, commenting that she will be good for creating the character of Kirsty.
[1] Gaskell previously guest starred in Casualty's sister show, Holby City, for one episode as a heavily pregnant woman.
At the audition, Gaskell was informed about the character's storylines and how producers wanted to handle the story, which encouraged to pursue the role.
[2] Gaskell immediately notified her mother of her new role, before informing her friend, actress Georgia Taylor, who portrays Ruth Winters in the serial.
[2] In preparation for the role, Gaskell shadowed nurses at the emergency department (ED) of Frenchay Hospital, South Gloucestershire.
[2] She impresses ED consultant Adam Trueman, portrayed by Tristan Gemmill, when she helps a grieving patient (Michelle Collins) tackle her grief.
[8] Kirsty later shares a one-off kiss with Adam and Gaskell pointed out that a mutual attraction has grown between the pair.
Gaskell explained this "frustrates" her character as she "passionately believes in going that extra mile for a patient if it means it will help them outside of the ED.
[12] Similarly, Kirsty clashes with ED doctor Ruth Winters and they share some "fairly fractious" scenes although Gaskell and Taylor knew each other from school and enjoyed filming together.
[14] Lord's casting in the role of Kirsty's husband, Warren, was announced shortly afterwards; the character was billed as "dark and brooding".
Lord explained that Warren "genuinely loves" Nita and desires a relationship with Kirsty, but is "fighting a losing battle with himself and others".
[16] Gaskell mentioned that Warren would be introduced in the show's twenty-fifth series,[2] and he made his first appearance in the episode "Reasons Unknown", broadcast on 16 October 2010.
[3] Gaskell and producers worked together to display that domestic abuse often occurs with "strong and feisty women", which she initially found surprising.
[5] Gaskell prepared for the storyline by researching the role and contacting domestic abuse charity, Women's Aid.
[6] The actress wanted Kirsty's storyline to raise awareness for domestic violence as she felt it was an issue not publicised enough.
"[18] Struggling to sleep at home, Kirsty takes diazepam before receiving a call from work informing her she is late.
Struggling to stay awake, Kirsty "tricks" Adam into prescribing her Ritalin although it has a negative effect on her body and she collapses.
[8] She is discovered by nurse Madiha Dhurani (Hasina Haque) and Adam, who Gaskell described as Kirsty's "knight in shining scrubs".
[6] Gaskell stated that this is "a real wake-up call" for Kirsty, who briefly considers staying with Adam until she realises Warren would look for her there, endangering her and Nita.
"[10] Nita's confession was filmed in late December 2010 on a swaying tower situated 50 feet above ground while weather conditions were bad.
Gaskell found the experience "scary" and noted that the show's continuity team struggled because it occasionally snowed while filming the scenes.
[5] Gaskell confirmed that producers had left the door open for a potential return and said that she is "really sad" to leave the serial.
[30] Gaskell found filming her final scenes "emotional" and became hysterical when her colleagues began to bid her goodbye.
When Kirsty suggests that Emily should be assessed by the psychiatric team, Adam questions if she is allowing her own abuse judge her professional opinion.
[29] Kirsty ultimately decides to leave Holby, which Gaskell described as a place "full of bad memories".
[29] Louise Naughton of Nursing in Practice called Kirsty "forceful and feisty" as well as "capable and talented", but stated that she became "belittled, controlled and bruised" in her domestic abuse storyline.
[32] Collins (TV Choice) called the domestic abuse storyline "very powerful" and described Kirsty's departure as "uplifting" and a "happy ending" for the character.