Source: Channel 4
When that phone rings, the department know that there is an emergency on the way in and they need to prepare quickly and efficiently. The patient being rushed in by helicopter was Kevin who crashed his lorry at 50mph. Strapped to a back board with splints holding his bones together, the 55-year-old looked so helpless. You don’t expect to see a grown man in such shock and discomfort.
After jack-knifing his lorry, he had broken six bones, including one in his neck. His wife Janet rushed to be at his bedside and was anxious to know how bad his injuries were. It might have been a horrific accident but luckily Kevin got away with just an operation on his leg and having to wear a neck brace for 12 weeks.
Another patient wasn’t so lucky.
Also being rushed into A&E was 80-year-old Rose who was taken in by her three daughters Christine, Sandra and Debbie. Taken in after a fall and not being able to breathe properly, Rose had the same attitude that many other people when it comes to hospitals. Not wanting any fuss, Rose refused to let anyone know she wasn’t very well and it was up to her family to call the paramedics.
When they arrived at the hospital, you could see just how poorly Rose was and she was diagnosed with having fluid on her lungs. Not able to speak, this little old lady looked exhausted in her hospital bed.
Watching Rose’s daughters trying to convince her that she wasn’t dying was heart-breaking but to be honest it sounded more like they were trying to convince themselves rather than their Mum. And that was confirmed when the two youngest siblings approached the Doctor to find out what her chances were. It wasn’t good news. After being told that they would not resuscitate or put her on a ventilator if her condition deteriorated, it was a lot for the sisters to take in.
The more time when on, the more emotional they got and it really became difficult to watch. You don’t think about these awful conversations that go on between families that are experiencing losing a loved one. For this particular family, it must have been tremendously difficult as the bond they had was so special. It seemed that Rose only had to look at one of her daughters and it was like they were having an unspoken conversation.
In the following week of being admitted, Rose’s condition worsened and she finally passed away surrounded by a family that loved her deeply. Such a sad story but I think respect should be paid to the family for allowing such a terrifying experience to be broadcast on national television.
It is comforting to know that even those that work in an environment surrounded by tragedy are still afraid of death. Claire, one of the Nurses at King’s College, is not afraid to admit it:
The process of dying terrifies me.
I think everyone must fear it in some way or another but at least we are luckily enough to see how people deal with it with programmes such as this one.
