24 Hours in A&E

Episode 8 (1x8)

Udgivelsesdato: Jun 29, 2011

The medical team, patients and their families face up to the meaning of life and death. Former motorbike racer John, who's 77, has been sent to A&E with his wife Brenda after a routine health screening revealed a potentially-deadly 'Triple A' (abdominal aortic aneurism) - a dramatic swelling of the main artery that could burst at any moment, making him a 'walking timebomb'. The only option is major surgery, which could be dangerous at his age. Meanwhile, 92-year-old widow Eileen has been brought into hospital after falling and spending the night on the floor. Consultant Liz is worried Eileen may have broken her hip and wants to keep her in overnight to make sure she's fine. 'Lots of times there's nothing I can do,' says Liz. 'We are meant to grow old, we are meant to get ill and we are meant to die. I can fiddle about at the edges of that, but there's no sort of magical response in this hospital that can change that.' Among the other patients is Claire. A year ago, her boyfriend, a medical student, was killed instantly while cycling to lectures, and now she's been injured on her bike. Meanwhile, emergency medical technician Amanda and mobile catering assistant Pritpal talk about the roles they play in helping people to get better.