24 Hours in A&E

Worst Case Scenario (3x21)

Air date: Aug 28, 2013

This episode focuses on men of all ages facing illness and their fears. Seventy-nine-year-old Arthur has been brought to Resus after complaining of stomach pains. The medics are trying to work out which of his underlying conditions could be to blame: he's on kidney dialysis, and has an existing ulcer and an enlarged aorta (the major artery in the heart). But Arthur's not one for complaining; he's known tough times. As a boy, Arthur was evacuated from London during the Blitz, but was brought back by his mother. 'She said "If we're going to die, we may as well die in our own home"', he says. Arthur's daughter Debbie talks proudly about her father's positive attitude to life. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Tom, who works as a wine merchant, is rushed into A&E after collapsing with acute chest pain and difficulty breathing. Tom's normally fit and well, and has no history of a heart condition or respiratory problems. Doctors are uncertain of the underlying cause of his pain. Tom's dad Bob was understandably seriously worried to get the call from A&E. And retired soldier Rockey has come to King's with his wife Cordelia after experiencing blurred vision. Rockey, who was born in Guyana, is worried it could be a detached retina, which could lead to blindness. But Rockey does tend to be a glass-half-full kind of person, perhaps with good reason.