24 Hours in A&E

Valentine's Day (3x4)

Air date: May 01, 2013

It's Valentine's Day and love is in the air at King's College Hospital's Accident and Emergency Department. 'Relationships in A&E, it can go either one way or the other,' says nurse Abbie. 'It can bring people closer together because they get a fright and then they realise that some things actually really don't matter now my partner's sick. But you do see the odd fight.' Father-of-three John, who's 53, was on his way to work when he came off his motorbike and struck a bollard, injuring his shoulder. Frances, his partner of 24 years, is abroad and John doesn't want to spoil her holiday - she worries about him going out on his motorbike every day - so he asks their son not to tell her he's in hospital. 'I'm a psychologist,' says John. 'Some of the work I do is with pain management and I teach particular skills to my clients - none of those skills were of any use to me at that time.' Consultant Graham decides John's pain is so bad that he'll give him ketamine: a sedative so strong it's also used as a horse tranquiliser. Gary is in King's with a bleed on the brain and a suspected stroke. His partner Tracy is at his side to support him. They met at a biker's rally in Kent ten years ago and are still deeply in love. Despite appearances, Gary is a secret softie. Eighty-four-year-old Ronald has been bitten by his dog Benjie while they were playing with a ball. Ronald's wife Cathy passed away after 50 years of marriage; Benjie is his constant companion, and is being very contrite since the accident.