Children's Hospital (1993)

Every year, thousands of young patients are admitted to the Sheffield Children's Hospital. Some of the stories are dramatic, such as the emergency admission of five-month-old Gemma, suffering from meningitis. But for other children, being at hospital is a way of life for example Eleven-year-old Lisa knows the hospital better than many who work there.

At 11.00pm, a baby is about to be born by emergency caesarian. If the baby's to survive, it will need major surgery, and specialists are standing by. Meanwhile, despite her disease of the gut and a sprained ankle, plucky Lisa is determined to keep her date as mascot with Sheffield Wednesday. And back on Ward 5, Jonathan has come round from a lengthy operation to correct his talipes, or club foot - to face the first of many days of pain.

Severe winter weather has led to a rush of emergency admissions, and every bed is full; but there are still children with chronic problems in need of surgical beds. Into the chaos comes Michael , a toddler with a serious intolerance to food, here to attempt the "egg challenge". Meanwhile 2-year-old Luke is down on intensive care, as he has been for most of his life, struck down by a rogue virus, paralysed from the waist down. And Jonathan is back, as the frame on his foot is causing him pain.

Fifteen-month-old Jonathan has been diagnosed with a tumour of the kidney. To save his life the organ must be removed. It is a very tense time for his parents Cathy and Ian and hours before the emergency operation he catches a cold. Will the operation have to be cancelled? Bright and bubbly 13-year-old Bunty has a rare tumour. She's been in and out of hospital for months but at last the massive doses of chemotherapy are beginning to take effect.

Tonight a minor operation, but a major event for 6-year-old Abigail ,who has her ears pinned back. Meanwhile, a teenage boy is rushed unconscious to the hospital after an accident at school.

For the past few weeks 4-year-old Luke has been pale and tired. Without warning he is diagnosed as having leukaemia. He must start chemotherapy, while his devastated family struggle to come to terms with his life-threatening illness. Meanwhile Sheila Jackson is busy fundraising for cancer charity. She's planning a big balloon race for all the children on the cancer ward. Six-year-old Abigail is back after the operation to pin back her ears. What will they look like once the bandages have been removed?

Three-week-old baby James has had difficulty breathing since he was born, but experts at the hospital are baffled. He has already had a battery of tests without conclusive results, and so it's time for a brain scan at the adult hospital nearby. Back on Intensive Care, mum and grandma can only sit and wait.

Four-year-old Karl was diagnosed with spina bifida before he was born, and in a few weeks' time he is due to go to an ordinary primary school. For Karl it's the biggest challenge of his life.

It's FA Cup final day and Sheffield Wednesday are playing Arsenal: the whole hospital is glued to the television. Football-mad Lisa has to watch from her bed. Back in again is Jonathan . There's been a setback in the long, painful treatment of his club foot. While trouble is brewing among disgruntled domestic staff, on the ward 10-year-old Rebecca faces a lifetime of injections. Doctors suspect she might have diabetes.

The final story from the wards begins amid the excitement of bonfire night. Despite the warnings, accidents still happen and Casualty is on stand-by. Eleven-year-old Frankie has been out collecting bonfire wood and gets his thumb stuck on a nail. Meanwhile on Ward 4, doctors are worried about little Simon 's new liver. And as the series draws to an end, we catch up with the youngsters who have featured over the last ten weeks.