24 Hours in A&E

This episode focuses on patients rushed into King's after being involved in serious traffic accidents, and shows that not all problems are immediately obvious. Steve, a 48-year-old retired soldier, arrives for special treatment after driving off a road and being found unconscious at the wheel of his car. But doctors don't know whether Steve lost consciousness before the crash so they need to run tests to ascertain what happened. Eleven-year-old schoolgirl Scarlett has been knocked down by a car on her way to the Science Museum. She's anxious on arrival so the King's team, led by consultant Firas, have to calm her down so that they can treat her. Seventy-year-old Pauline was hit by a car that mounted the pavement, seriously injuring her lower legs. As someone who's always put others first, Pauline reflects on the novelty of having to let others do things for her.

The series continues with a touching episode dedicated to love. Concerned young parents Nicole and Stefian arrive in Resus by ambulance with their 19-month-old baby daughter Xah'Nae. She's been vomiting, has a high fever and has become floppy and unresponsive. The King's medical team are concerned that Xah'Nae may have a life-threatening infection around her brain and in her spine, possibly encephalitis. Doctors hope a strong mixture of antibiotic and anti-viral drugs will stabilise her. Meanwhile, 61-year-old Christine is brought into Resus, unconscious after collapsing in her sister's bathroom. She had a stroke 10 years ago, and the doctors are concerned that she may have had another. As the medical team treats Christine and tries to establish why she passed out, her husband Dave contemplates their life together. They've been married for 42 years, and Dave paints a picture of a relationship that's tempestuous but founded on true love. Graham, who's 52, has fallen over in the bathroom and hit his head. He's been brought in to A&E by his adoring sisters Christine and Jean, who are also his carers. Graham has Down's syndrome and has recently developed dementia. Christine and Jean stay by Graham's side, giving him constant reassurance as he's scanned and has his wound treated. The two sisters discuss their love for their little brother and the challenges and joys of caring for him, and contemplate what the future holds for them all.

This episode focuses on the strong bonds within families and the challenge of breaking bad news. Bill, who's 92, arrives at King's with breathing difficulties and a swollen leg. He's accompanied by his stepdaughter Jo. As he's treated, doctors suspect the shortness of breath and swelling could be due to a clot and send him for X-rays. But the test results suggest there may be something more serious wrong. Meanwhile, Bill talks about reaching his nineties and his strong bond with his stepdaughter. Andy comes into King's with stomach cramps. The 45-year-old had a liver transplant 10 years ago and, as doctors investigate the cause of his discomfort, Andy reflects on living with someone else's liver, growing up in the East End, his time as a punk living in a squat in Waterloo and his career with the Royal Navy. Sarah, who's 25, has been finding it hard to stand up and has been brought into King's by her mum and grandfather. Sarah has learning difficulties as a result of an inherited genetic disorder. Her dad died from the same condition when she was just seven. As her symptoms deteriorate, doctors are concerned she may have suffered a stroke. Sarah's grandfather Clive is by her side throughout. He reflects on his strong bond with Sarah and their mutual love of Charlton Athletic.

More than 400 patients are treated in a busy 24 hours at King's. Peggy, who's 85, arrives by ambulance with her doting husband Clement. She's fallen at home and hurt her knee. It's the second time she's fallen in two months and medics want to find out if there's something more serious going on. Peggy suffers from Alzheimer's, and Clement reminisces about their life together, including how he proposed to her by accident. But he knows her condition is getting worse. Bob, who's 75, arrives by ambulance after a suspected heart attack. He has a history of heart disease and has had a triple bypass. The medical team are keeping him under a close watch. Bob talks about the pros and cons of being an older father to his 25-year-old son Matthew, who reflects on being a young boy with a dad people assume is your granddad. And they both contemplate the future. Meanwhile brothers Ben and James arrive at King's after a night out in the West End. Ben's finger has become very swollen and painful. The 25-year-old isn't overly concerned, but the doctor diagnoses cellulitis. It can be serious - and could lead to potentially fatal septicaemia - so Ben will need to be seen by a plastic surgeon and have an operation.

Twelve-year-old Eddie is brought into A&E by ambulance after being hit by a car on his way home from school. Eddie's head 'bullseyed' the windscreen and he was thrown, somersaulting twice before landing on the pavement. Eddie's accompanied by his sister Chloe while his mum, Justine, rushes back from a rare day out with friends in central London to be by his side. It turns out this is the accident-prone schoolboy's fourth visit to A&E on a blue light. Concerned that Eddie may have suffered a bleed on the brain, consultant Liz sends him for a CT scan. And when blood is detected in his urine, Eddie is sent for a second scan in case of damage to his kidneys. Linda, who's 64, is brought into King's after suffering from respiratory failure at home. Having recently undergone an operation to treat cancer, she now breathes with the help of a tracheostomy, a small hole in her windpipe. And, as her vocal chords had to be removed, Linda communicates with the medical team by writing notes. Linda reflects on what it was like to lose her voice, working as an undertaker and going on pub crawls with her late husband, John. Meanwhile, 20-year-old student Amy has come into King's with her friend Helena after coughing up blood and experiencing headaches and chest pain. And Courtney, who's also 20, has been sent to King's by her optician, who detected an unusual swelling behind her eyes.

This episode explores how friends and relatives can help in the healing process. Stacie, who's 38, is transferred to King's early in the morning after falling out of a tree onto her head at a friend's all-night divorce party. She's accompanied by her ex-boyfriend John and old friend Laura, who've come to be by her side and act as next of kin. It's evident that Stacie has been badly hurt, but doctors have to work out the severity of the injuries to her spine and neck. When it becomes clear that her spine is broken in two places and that Stacie has no feeling below her hips the medical team worry that she may be paralysed. Nineteen-year-old veterinary student Ashleigh is rushed to A&E by helicopter after being involved in a high-speed head-on car crash. She was driving home for Sunday lunch at the time and was left trapped in her car after the collision. Ashleigh is agitated and doctors have to sedate her so she doesn't further injure herself and so that she can be stabilised for scanning. The medical team are concerned that Ashleigh may have a brain injury. Her mother Angela and stepfather Paul arrive, as does her dad Pete. As Ashleigh receives treatment, they reflect on their lives with her. Meanwhile, 78-year-old Peter arrives at King's on his own with abdominal pains. As he's treated, Peter paints a picture of his life: being rescued as a young child from a concentration camp by Russian soldiers and going around the world four times: twice on a motorbike. But he's not met the right woman to settle down with yet.