St George's Hospital documentary '24 Hours in A&E' returns tonight

By The Editor 18th Nov 2020

Local News by The Editor 18th Nov 2020

The award-winning 24 Hours in A&E which is set in St George's Hospital in Tooting and King's College Hospital returns tonight.

The episode, airing on Channel 4 at 9pm, compiles some of the most memorable staff and patient stories since filming began in 2011.

This episode features three patients filmed at St George's.

65-year-old Fiona, a retired air stewardess, is rushed to A&E after falling over at her best friend's 70th birthday party and seriously cutting her leg. She has an arterial bleed.

"An injury like this can be life threatening. Our biggest fear is that it can cause cardiac arrest," says Nurse Anna.

Evelyn, the birthday girl, is keeping Fiona company and they reminisce about their time working as air stewardesses together.

We learn how their strong friendship has waxed and waned and of the different paths they chose to take in life.

Fiona explains the years of loneliness she experienced after her divorce and how her three children pulled her through.

She needs surgery to repair the wound and prevent infection. She says goodbye to her friend and their bond is clear.

73-year-old Monica has come to A&E with hip pain with her son Elston. Monica tells us about life growing up in Trinidad.

She remembers arriving in the UK as a young woman: "I came in September and boy was it cold and everybody was saying it was hot and I was freezing."

Monica talks about her early years working in the UK as a nurse in London – at none other than St George's.

She reminisces fondly about her beloved husband Noel and their life together. She tells stories of the racism they encountered together and the challenges of being in a biracial marriage in the UK. Strength and love pulled them through.

66-year-old Christine is raced to St George's after experiencing stroke like symptoms on her way to work.

Christine is suffering with tremors on the left side of her body.

Specialist neurologist Anil is called to A&E to see Christine:

"The brain is still a mystery. It's still, out of the all the organs in the body, the one we understand the least."

An urgent brain scan shows a swelling on the brain. Neurologist Anil explains: "Seeing a swelling on the brain, you know, I guess, what it can be, and certainly a brain tumour can be on that list."