0:00:02 > 0:00:06Hand versus chainsaw. That looks painful.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10Our hospitals are taking care of more patients than ever...
0:00:11 > 0:00:15- You all right?- No.- Oh, poppet!
0:00:15 > 0:00:17..with medical teams under constant pressure...
0:00:17 > 0:00:20Can Dr Pitsea comes to resus, please?
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Somebody as poorly as this little one,
0:00:22 > 0:00:24you really need to treat them quickly.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26..to meet our expectations.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29I'm just worried about what it's going to be like afterwards.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33But there's a crucial member of the team we sometimes forget.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35I've never, ever been on a bed like this.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39The hospital bed.
0:00:39 > 0:00:40Another ward.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Another story. Another bed.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44SHE SCREAMS
0:00:45 > 0:00:46In our lifetime,
0:00:46 > 0:00:50we are likely to need one of them at least three times.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53I've probably spent a quarter of me life on a hospital bed.
0:00:53 > 0:00:58In this series, our cameras have been given unprecedented access
0:00:58 > 0:01:02to beds in four very different hospitals across the country.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06It's life, life and death, and everything that goes in between.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08We'll see the world through the bed's eyes...
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Hello, my love, hiya.
0:01:11 > 0:01:12..as they share the most challenging...
0:01:12 > 0:01:16I don't know what to do. I don't know.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19..most intimate...
0:01:21 > 0:01:22I know.
0:01:22 > 0:01:23..and most rewarding...
0:01:23 > 0:01:25Happy birthday!
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Isn't hospital wonderful?
0:01:27 > 0:01:29..moments of our lives.
0:01:29 > 0:01:30Thank you for being here.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32I wouldn't have been anywhere else.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36The hospital cannot function without beds. Beds are vital.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40This is The Secret Life Of The Hospital Bed.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52Close to the heart of Newcastle city centre
0:01:52 > 0:01:55is the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59Its state-of-the-art A&E department,
0:01:59 > 0:02:02which opened just six years ago, operates 24/7.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05That patient is just about to go round.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08This gentleman's not well enough to move at the minute.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Its 29 beds see up to 2,500 patients a week.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16Swing your legs up.
0:02:16 > 0:02:17Right, I've asked them to X-ray that hand,
0:02:17 > 0:02:20so you can pop down off the trolley now.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26A&E bed seven is prepped, ready for its next patient.
0:02:29 > 0:02:3151-year-old Astrid and husband Phil
0:02:31 > 0:02:35have just returned from a holiday in Ibiza.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37She's worried her vision may have been damaged
0:02:37 > 0:02:39following an insect bite.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44We've been on holiday.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46I was sitting on the balcony last night,
0:02:46 > 0:02:49and you feel something on you, sort of like flicked it.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53And felt my face, and there was, like, a little lump at the side.
0:02:53 > 0:02:58And as the day, obviously, went on,
0:02:58 > 0:03:00by the time it was time to go to the airport,
0:03:00 > 0:03:02it was just getting bigger and bigger.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05I couldn't look round the duty-free shop in the airport, I was gutted.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08I was wandering around, I couldn't see.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11Like, I was trying to have a look, because I had the sunglasses on,
0:03:11 > 0:03:14because the light, as well, was hurting my eyes,
0:03:14 > 0:03:15well, hurting that eye.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19I have got pain, but it's actually... I'm going to point at this eye.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22In case I poke myself in it, because I can't see.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26It's actually in the corner, it's sort of like the corner.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29But the rest of it, I can't,
0:03:29 > 0:03:32I can't feel it because all this here is numb.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35And as I'm talking to you now, the pain is now getting worse,
0:03:35 > 0:03:37it's now moving down to the bottom bit.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40So, yes, I am, I am worried, concerned.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46Dr Smith has carried out an initial examination of the swelling.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50She's had an insect bite by the sounds of things, on holiday.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53And then had some localised swelling, like,
0:03:53 > 0:03:54a localised allergic reaction.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57If Astrid's glands are also swollen,
0:03:57 > 0:04:01it could be a sign of widespread infection.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03She's due to be back at work in three days.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06I'm a machine operator.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09So, I actually... I work on packing machines.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14In, like, a factory, a well-known factory. So, yeah, I need my eyes.
0:04:16 > 0:04:17Dr Smith is back.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22So. I've had a chat with our consultant, Reuben,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25he isn't concerned about it, and your eye,
0:04:25 > 0:04:28because obviously, your vision on that eye is better...
0:04:28 > 0:04:30- Yeah, I can... - ..than the other side.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32Very strange, isn't it?
0:04:32 > 0:04:36What we're going to do is treat you for... To prevent any infection.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38So that's what this is for.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41So you need to take two once a day, for five days,
0:04:41 > 0:04:44so there's two, four, six, eight, ten.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Obviously if things aren't getting better, if it gets worse,
0:04:47 > 0:04:50it's worth seeing your GP as well, they can give you some ointment.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52- All right?- Yes, brilliant.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57- So, you can go.- Oh, right, brilliant. Thank you very much.
0:04:57 > 0:04:58Thank you.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02With the doctor confident there's nothing more serious,
0:05:02 > 0:05:03Astrid leaves A&E bed seven.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09They're not concerned, but if it does swell up or go red,
0:05:09 > 0:05:13then, to either go to the GP or come back.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17Continue with my antihistamines, and take my antibiotics.
0:05:19 > 0:05:20And hope for the best.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Just fingers crossed I don't get the infection.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27In less than two hours,
0:05:27 > 0:05:31A&E bed seven has helped Astrid get diagnosed and treated.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33- It's prepped for its next patient. - And now it's beautiful.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51Down the corridor, A&E bed 15 is waiting for its next patient.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56Hello. My name's Jackie.
0:05:56 > 0:06:01Second-year law student Siobhan has a potential broken toe.
0:06:01 > 0:06:02Just have a seat over here.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04She's been referred to A&E by her GP
0:06:04 > 0:06:07and has come here with her friend Mary.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09So, have you seen anyone else about this?
0:06:09 > 0:06:11Been to the doctor's today, they sent me straight here.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13What did the doctor think?
0:06:13 > 0:06:15He doesn't know if it's broken, I might need...
0:06:15 > 0:06:17I'll need an X-ray but he thinks it's infected as well.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20Oh, my goodness, it looks pretty sore-looking.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23- Yeah, it is pretty sore.- Yeah, a little bit of blistering there.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25- Yeah.- You haven't been buying new shoes or anything recently?
0:06:25 > 0:06:27No, I tried to wear some shoes yesterday
0:06:27 > 0:06:29because I had to leave the house
0:06:29 > 0:06:32- and that's where the blister's come from.- Oh, I see, right.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34It's rubbed at the top of my shoe because it's so swollen.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Yeah, looks pretty painful.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40On a Friday evening, Siobhan works as a bartender in Newcastle.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43When you were at work on Friday, did anything happen?
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Not that I remember, but it was just hurting after work
0:06:46 > 0:06:49so I assume I must have stubbed it or something.
0:06:49 > 0:06:50And then I went out,
0:06:50 > 0:06:53and I woke up on Saturday and it was really swollen.
0:06:53 > 0:06:54What happened since then?
0:06:54 > 0:06:57It's just got a lot worse, really, since then, like, it's just
0:06:57 > 0:07:00swelled a bit more and it's spread a little bit down the foot.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02- Is it very painful?- Yeah.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06Siobhan injured her toe five days ago.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10Nurse Practitioner Lyon thinks the infection may be spreading.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13You've got a little bit of tracking going up your foot as well,
0:07:13 > 0:07:17see that little red line? We have to really look after that. Right.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19I'm not going to do anything drastic with it, OK?
0:07:19 > 0:07:22- Just looking at the bottom bit... - OK.- ..to see what's going on.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25- Can you feel me touching that?- Yeah. - Can you move it at all?
0:07:25 > 0:07:28- Ah, ahh... Ahhhh! - That's painful all the way?
0:07:28 > 0:07:32- Yeah, yeah, all the way, just where it's red.- Just here? Right.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35- I think we'll need to do an X-ray on this.- Yeah.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38OK, because it may be broken and that may be the reason
0:07:38 > 0:07:39why it's so swollen.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42I can't think of any other reason, I can't see any other puncture wounds
0:07:42 > 0:07:45or anything that's going on with the toe.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47If there is a possibility you've injured it,
0:07:47 > 0:07:49we need to exclude an X-ray. Exclude a fracture, sorry.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54Siobhan and A&E bed 15 are on the move.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58I can't believe I'm being wheeled around for a toe, this is great!
0:07:59 > 0:08:01I feel like royalty.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03I just want to get it sorted so I can walk, cos at the moment, like,
0:08:03 > 0:08:07it's hard going to uni, so I just kind of need it sorted.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11It's a toe, at the end of the day, like, it's not that important.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14It is actually affecting me a lot more than I think
0:08:14 > 0:08:15a toe would normally.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18- Bye.- Good luck!
0:08:25 > 0:08:29Almost 25% of all bones in the human body are in the feet.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35A toe bone is one of the top five most common bones to break.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39If you could just relax your foot there.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Delays in treatment can lead to long-term chronic pain
0:08:42 > 0:08:44and arthritis.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Siobhan's X-rays reveal no breaks.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51I'll just give you a little slip
0:08:51 > 0:08:53to bring back through with you to A&E, OK?
0:08:53 > 0:08:54OK.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58It's back to the consultation room and Nurse Practitioner Lyon.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03Well, you maybe have stubbed it, and the bruising's caused by that.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06The blister's obviously caused by the shoe,
0:09:06 > 0:09:08and what you've ended up with is an infection.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11The tracking, you notice that little red line we were looking at earlier.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14- Yeah?- It looks a bit better since you've had your foot elevated.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17So you can see how good it is to elevate your foot.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23Nurse Practitioner Lyon prescribes antibiotics for the infection.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25She also recommends Siobhan rests,
0:09:25 > 0:09:28to stop the infection from spreading.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31We're going to ask you to elevate your foot,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34- because you don't want this line spreading up your leg.- OK.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Because you can become unwell with that.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38You know, the infection is localised just now,
0:09:38 > 0:09:40but it can travel and make you feel pretty ill.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43So if anything happens, your foot swells any more,
0:09:43 > 0:09:46- tracking comes, you've got to come back and see us.- Right, OK.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50- I'm going to have to ring work, aren't I?- What do you do?
0:09:50 > 0:09:54I work behind a bar. There's not much elevation around there.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57Unless I have literally one foot on the bar while I'm pouring a pint.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59I don't think that will be allowed.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Just bend your knee and put the toe on the paper.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03That would be great.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06I think it's mainly the blister that's the problem, you know.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09- Does it matter about the blister, could you not pop it?- No.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12- Is it bad to pop blisters? - To be honest, it's not that tense.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14You know what I mean? So it's full of fluid,
0:10:14 > 0:10:16and the fluid does help the healing as well.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19- So should you never pop blisters? - It will pop them itself.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21Oh, my God, what's that?
0:10:21 > 0:10:24Siobhan's toe is cleaned and dressed to protect it.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29That'll make it feel more comfortable.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33I'm not happy at all. I've got so much to do.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36- You really do need to rest it. - I will.- And elevate it.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39If you don't do that, it's only going to get worse.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42I feel really bad, and really guilty that I'm going to be missing work,
0:10:42 > 0:10:45and uni, for a toe.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50Siobhan is booked in for a checkup in two days' time.
0:10:50 > 0:10:51She can now head home.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00A&E bed 15 gets ready for its next patient.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10Birmingham is home to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13It has one of the largest hand surgery units in the country.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16There may be some numbness around that area afterwards,
0:11:16 > 0:11:18but that will recover with time.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Every year, 11 consultants perform
0:11:22 > 0:11:25more than 3,000 hand trauma operations.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27We're waiting for those bones to knit together,
0:11:27 > 0:11:30so we're going to put a plate and screws in.
0:11:30 > 0:11:35Around 80% of these happen here on the day surgery ward.
0:11:37 > 0:11:38- Are you in here, Lena?- Yes, I am.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41- 25 and 26 have arrived, you OK if I bring them in?- Yes.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44The 81 beds here work 12-hour shifts.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48They transport patients for operations
0:11:48 > 0:11:50to repair and reconstruct their hands.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00Day surgery bed 52 is waiting for its first patient of the day.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04- You've got Cathy P on till 3:30, haven't you?- Yeah.
0:12:04 > 0:12:09So, hopefully, by that time, we can start pooling staff.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11- Have you had your break this morning?- Yeah.- Good.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Susan shattered several bones in her hand when she fell
0:12:19 > 0:12:22while on holiday in Rhodes with her husband, Brian.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26It was a really good holiday, very restful.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30And we were only just discussing, the day of the accident,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33how well the holiday had done us,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36and then, I go and have this nasty fall.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40She received initial treatment in Greece,
0:12:40 > 0:12:42but now needs reconstructive surgery.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47Without it, she risks losing some of the use of her left hand.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50He tells me I'm not a good patient.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54Susan has worked as a midwife for 32 years.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Brian, do you think medical professionals make good patients?
0:12:57 > 0:12:58No, they don't.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01They don't appreciate the lack of control they suddenly have
0:13:01 > 0:13:04over a situation that they'd normally have control over.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Brian's not a trained nurse.
0:13:07 > 0:13:08When he's looking after me as well,
0:13:08 > 0:13:11I want things done to a certain standard.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14And he can't always perform to that standard.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16THEY LAUGH
0:13:16 > 0:13:20I've been drying her hair this morning, I've not done it right.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22I've not done it right at all.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25"You're not firm enough, not firm enough."
0:13:25 > 0:13:28And then, "You're being too firm now!"
0:13:28 > 0:13:31I think I'll be OK as a patient today.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35It's later on, when I'm convalescing,
0:13:35 > 0:13:38- that I'll be frustrated. - Tell me about it.- I'll be there.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44Making the lunch. Putting the washing out. Washing the pots.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48That sort of thing. But I don't mind, I can do it.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50He had to have a little nap yesterday afternoon because
0:13:50 > 0:13:52he was so worn out from looking after me, so...
0:13:53 > 0:13:55Hiya.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05Nurse Guy settles Susan onto bed 52.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11Next, she's visited by consultant surgeon Mr Tan.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13Hello, hi, Susan.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15- My name is Simon Tan. - Lovely to meet you.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17- Nice to meet you.- Hello.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20- Are you right-handed or left-handed? - Fortunately, I'm right-handed.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23- And when was your fall? - Friday night.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25And so, did you... you went to hospital in Rhodes?
0:14:25 > 0:14:26Went to the hospital in Rhodes,
0:14:26 > 0:14:29I've got some paperwork of what they did there.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33They did an X-ray. I did bring the X-ray into A&E on Sunday.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35With the fracture, it's quite comminuted,
0:14:35 > 0:14:39so it's in quite a few pieces, and it extends into the joint,
0:14:39 > 0:14:40and those pieces aren't sitting
0:14:40 > 0:14:42- the way that they're meant to. - Oh, right.
0:14:42 > 0:14:48So, the idea of today is that we want to restore the bone
0:14:48 > 0:14:52and the architecture and the joint as accurately as we can,
0:14:52 > 0:14:55and the reason that we're doing that is because we know from experience
0:14:55 > 0:15:00that if we leave them displaced and as displaced as yours is,
0:15:00 > 0:15:03there is a significant risk of loss of function,
0:15:03 > 0:15:07- ongoing pain and deterioration in the wrist...- Right.- ..down the line.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11And there is a risk of a degenerative arthritis developing.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14Now, once we've put all those pieces of bone back into place,
0:15:14 > 0:15:16we've got to make sure that they stay there,
0:15:16 > 0:15:19so we achieve that by putting an implant in,
0:15:19 > 0:15:22- so it's a titanium implant, a metal plate with some screws.- Right, yeah.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25OK? In terms of what you can expect afterwards,
0:15:25 > 0:15:28- it will be pretty sore, actually.- Will it?
0:15:28 > 0:15:31Mmm. So we're going to have to arrange a little cocktail
0:15:31 > 0:15:33- of medications for you to go home on.- Right.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37You'll probably be in a plaster just for the first week, ten days.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39You're not going to be able to do anything manual, maybe,
0:15:39 > 0:15:42- for six weeks?- Right.- Eight weeks.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46- OK, great. See you shortly. - Thank you, see you later.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55- What time is now?- 11 o'clock. I feel like we've been here hours.
0:15:55 > 0:16:00- What time did we get here? - I assume we got here about 9:20.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04- You all ready?- Yes. Off we go.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08- See you.- See you later, bye-bye.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11He's not very romantic, my husband, he never gives me kisses.
0:16:11 > 0:16:12Men generally aren't.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19Susan's procedure in the day surgery clinic will take up to two hours.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23She will also spend up to an hour in the anaesthetic room.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27Day surgery bed 52 will wait nearby for the duration of the procedure.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33- You will feel some cold gel going on top now.- OK.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37Anaesthetist Dr Cibelli is using a nerve block on Susan's hand.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39It's a targeted local anaesthetic
0:16:39 > 0:16:41which should numb all feeling in the area.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44- Would you mind to do this for me? - Flex?- Yes.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46- Is it a bit more difficult than normal?- Yes.
0:16:46 > 0:16:47It feels heavy, feels heavy.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50OK, good, that's exactly what I want.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53It will allow her to be awake throughout the operation,
0:16:53 > 0:16:55and will speed up her recovery time.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59'Obviously, it's a worrying time.'
0:16:59 > 0:17:02But...I do trust everybody.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06I'm feeling OK.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08My hand's feeling quite comfortable now,
0:17:08 > 0:17:10cos the anaesthetist has put all his stuff in.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Susan can't go straight into her surgery,
0:17:14 > 0:17:17as the anaesthetic needs time to take effect.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20I'm feeling quite relaxed now, listening to this music,
0:17:20 > 0:17:22and quite chilled.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26The nurse put it on, it's quite nice, whatever she's chosen.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28I can wiggle my toes to it.
0:17:31 > 0:17:3430 minutes later, anaesthetist Dr Cibelli
0:17:34 > 0:17:36checks his block has worked.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39- I'm spraying you here. - That's cold.- Cold.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42- Can you feel it here?- No.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44- Can you feel it here?- No.- No.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47- So it's an amazing block, isn't it? - Can't feel it.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49- I wish you good luck in theatre, then.- Thank you.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Starting to feel a bit shaky now,
0:17:51 > 0:17:54probably nerves because I'm going into theatre.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57Right, just keep your other hand inside the trolley for us,
0:17:57 > 0:17:59don't reach out for any of the walls.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03Husband Brian will have to wait alone for several hours
0:18:03 > 0:18:05until Susan returns from theatre.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20At Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary,
0:18:20 > 0:18:22the minor injuries unit is open seven days a week
0:18:22 > 0:18:25between eight in the morning and nine at night.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31Staff have access to up to six beds in this area,
0:18:31 > 0:18:34seeing and treating a wide range of patients
0:18:34 > 0:18:36with urgent but not emergency conditions.
0:18:40 > 0:18:41Bed two has just become free.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47Its next patient is 22-year-old Hannah.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51She's come in with a painful abscess on her abdomen.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55She's worried it may be a sign of a more serious infection.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58It really, really, really hurts. So, I can't...
0:19:00 > 0:19:04I've had ice on it, and I've had loads of stuff to try and it's like...
0:19:04 > 0:19:07alcohol wipes on it and it's just not getting better.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Hannah is taken to minor injuries bed two.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Sit yourself up.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15I'm one of the nurse practitioners.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18Swing your legs up, make yourself comfortable.
0:19:18 > 0:19:23Nurse Practitioner Kendall has worked at the RVI for 16 years.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26So tell me what's been happening.
0:19:26 > 0:19:32Er, basically, I've got sort of an infected abscess on my side.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36- On my right side. - So has anything come out of it?
0:19:36 > 0:19:38Yeah, quite a lot.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42Quite a lot of green and black gunk.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44This is not Hannah's first abscess.
0:19:44 > 0:19:45Yeah.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48She's had several over the last three months.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52That big, and black, and raised, and full of pus.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55'I went into hospital, thinking it was a spider bite,'
0:19:55 > 0:19:57and I had to get a big, like,
0:19:57 > 0:20:01two-pound-sized wound cut open, and squeezed all the gunk out.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05And you can see if my leg's that wide, it's about that big.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10I was in hospital for three days and then I came out and it's been
0:20:10 > 0:20:12recurring over and over again.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17Abscesses can be caused when bacteria gets under the surface of the skin.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22Hannah's side is scarred due to previous abscesses.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26There's one here and one there.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30And they all just come and go, and whether they fill with pus or not
0:20:30 > 0:20:34is dependent on how quickly I can get some strong antibiotics into me.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38- I went in with it and they gave me some Flucloxacillin.- Mm-hm.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42The more antibiotics are taken, the less effective they can be.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46Infections can become immune to antibiotics.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51"If you give me Flucloxacillin it's not going to work.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55- "I feel like I've done that and it won't work." So she gave me Co-amoxiclav.- Right.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59Hannah wants to make sure that she doesn't get any more painful abscesses.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05I think as you build up maybe a tolerance to antibiotics, it's
0:21:05 > 0:21:09just not working any more so I need to have something stronger to
0:21:09 > 0:21:11sort of combat it.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15I'm just really unsure about what it could be and nobody knows.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Have you ever got to the bottom of this?
0:21:18 > 0:21:21- Have you seen your GP and have they done any bloods to see why?- No. - Anything?
0:21:21 > 0:21:24That's what I'm hoping to get from today or just get a referral
0:21:24 > 0:21:27- somewhere because it's just happening all the time.- Yeah.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30Like one in five people in the UK, Hannah
0:21:30 > 0:21:33has searched online to try and self-diagnose.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36Looking for symptoms on the internet is basically one of
0:21:36 > 0:21:39the things that makes you a bit more paranoid about what you've got.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43There's so many different things that can cause an abscess or
0:21:43 > 0:21:47can cause a little spot to fill with gunk or pus or something
0:21:47 > 0:21:50like that, but once someone's put something in your head,
0:21:50 > 0:21:54you can't shake the feeling of it, and then it makes you a bit more scared.
0:21:56 > 0:21:57But it hasn't got better.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01Hannah is worried about what some of her friends have suggested.
0:22:01 > 0:22:07I spoke to one of the girls that I work with who had seen MRSA
0:22:07 > 0:22:09when she was in Thailand in a hospital.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12And she said it looked very similar to that.
0:22:14 > 0:22:20The worst thing they could tell me was that I had a Staphylococcus aureus infection
0:22:20 > 0:22:24that had no cure or was a bit like I was going to have it for ever.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28Hannah must stay with minor injuries bed two until Nurse Practitioner
0:22:28 > 0:22:30Kendall takes a swab for analysis.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46In Birmingham at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Susan
0:22:46 > 0:22:49has left day surgery bed 52 for the operating table.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56She's having a plate and screws inserted to bind together
0:22:56 > 0:22:58bones that have shattered in her hand.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04Her husband of 34 years, Brian, must wait outside theatre.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11She's always treated illness as an imposition, a nuisance,
0:23:11 > 0:23:13and gets very annoyed with being ill.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17I'll be criticised and she'll lose her temper with me a few times,
0:23:17 > 0:23:19but it isn't losing it with me.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22It's losing it with the situation. She won't listen to me.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25Even though I've got five or six weeks of this.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27HE CHUCKLES
0:23:27 > 0:23:29So... Yeah.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32I'll just have to take it day by day.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35Operation over,
0:23:35 > 0:23:39and Susan will soon be reunited with day surgery bed 52.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42I'm relieved it's over, but...
0:23:42 > 0:23:44I was comfortable during the procedure.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46I know I was in good hands.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51Susan's operation has been carried out with a local anaesthetic,
0:23:51 > 0:23:54so she doesn't need to spend long in recovery.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Thanks a lot. Bye-bye.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59It's a nice, smooth drive.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04- Are you all right?- Yeah. - And there we are.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08- Thank you.- All the best, now. - Thanks a lot.- You take care.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11- Are you OK?- Yeah, fine, yeah.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13I've just had some morphine, but it's not kicked in yet.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15- My arm's throbbing.- Throbbing?- Mm.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17What happened? Was it painful?
0:24:17 > 0:24:20- I think the operation was longer than they thought.- A lot longer.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22More complicated than they thought, yeah.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24Cos he said to me an hour and a half to two.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26You were gone three-and-a-half hours.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29- There was two surgeons.- Two? - Two, yeah.- Oh, my word.
0:24:29 > 0:24:30It was quite complicated.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33'She's worried now that she's going to constantly be in pain
0:24:33 > 0:24:35'for the rest of her life.'
0:24:35 > 0:24:38She's worried, short-term, that the pain's going to be severe
0:24:38 > 0:24:42and that she's going to get sleepless nights.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44She'll be worried about her job,
0:24:44 > 0:24:49that she may not be able to go and do it like she used to be able to.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51That will concern her,
0:24:51 > 0:24:54that life may not be quite the same as it was.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59Nurse Fulford checks Susan's pain levels.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01How are you feeling? Still pain?
0:25:01 > 0:25:06Um... It's still pain, but, you know, it's...controllable.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10More women are admitted to hospital every year than men.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13- Shall we sit you up a little bit more?- Yeah.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15Your foot's hanging out the bed.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18You look like you've got a crick in the neck.
0:25:18 > 0:25:19Push all the way back.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23That's it. And do you want a tea or a coffee?
0:25:23 > 0:25:26I wouldn't mind a tea now, please. That would be great. Thank you.
0:25:26 > 0:25:31Susan's husband will need to care for her for the next six weeks.
0:25:31 > 0:25:36Yes, Brian's been very supportive while I've sustained this injury.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39It's been very challenging for him.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42He's been helping me do the little things, like...
0:25:42 > 0:25:44doing my bra up!
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Little things, yeah. Challenging things, yeah.
0:25:47 > 0:25:48Sometimes...
0:25:48 > 0:25:52he needs asking, because sometimes...
0:25:52 > 0:25:54I don't think men always anticipate your needs,
0:25:54 > 0:25:56so I have to ask him,
0:25:56 > 0:26:00but when I ask him, he always does it,
0:26:00 > 0:26:01so I can't complain.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09- Are you all right?- Mm, aye. - Good. Is it hurting still?
0:26:09 > 0:26:12- Don't talk about it till I talk about it, because...- OK.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14..I'm trying to distract myself from it.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17- I don't want to focus on it, if you know what I mean.- Yeah.
0:26:17 > 0:26:23I'm trying to disassociate myself with it, if you know what I mean.
0:26:23 > 0:26:24It's a good job...
0:26:24 > 0:26:26In the afternoon, you'd have been in overnight, possibly.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28That might have been a good thing,
0:26:28 > 0:26:30with the level of pain I'm going to be in.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33- Yeah. You just don't know, do you?- No.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35If you see the nurse, just say to her,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37"When do you want to get rid of us?"
0:26:37 > 0:26:40- Yeah, OK.- I'm just going to scan your wristband, if that's OK.
0:26:40 > 0:26:41Yeah, sure.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45- We've got some magic drugs! - Then we'll get you up and running.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48I'm not usually a drug person, but I'll make an exception today.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50- Yeah, I would.- They're a nice bright yellow as well.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52- Oh, are they?- Oh, lovely.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55- They turn your insides green.- OK. - Two yellow ones.- Lovely.
0:27:03 > 0:27:04Thank you very much.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10You happy swallowing that?
0:27:10 > 0:27:14- So, that's the slow-release morphine I've just had, yeah?- Yeah.- OK.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17- And with the Oramorph that you get from pharmacy later...- Mm-hm.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20- ..that should help keep your pain at bay.- Yeah.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22When do you want to get rid of us?
0:27:22 > 0:27:24- In the next 10, 15.- 10, 15 minutes?
0:27:26 > 0:27:29Seven hours after Susan settled onto day surgery bed 52,
0:27:29 > 0:27:31it's time to leave.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Keep the dressing clean and dry, so if you're going to have a shower,
0:27:35 > 0:27:38put a carrier bag on it, keep it waterproof.
0:27:38 > 0:27:39Keep the sling on now.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41When you go to bed, take it from around your neck,
0:27:41 > 0:27:43but keep the sling actually on
0:27:43 > 0:27:46and keep it elevated, if you've got some pillows.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49Yeah, that's what I've been doing, is doing it with pillows at night.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51- Not using his back.- No.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54He doesn't like it when I'm on my back, because I snore.
0:27:54 > 0:27:55He likes me on my side.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58- I can't sleep on my side, so it's challenging.- Yeah.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00Just going to have to live with it.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02- You'll have to put up with the snoring, won't you?- I will, I know.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Decided.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07- OK.- Thanks, Jenny. I appreciate that.- Thank you.- Thanks very much.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18- Do you want your coat?- Yeah.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20- No, I'll just hold it. - Are you sure?- Yeah.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23- All right, thank you. - Thank you. Take care.
0:28:23 > 0:28:24- Bye-bye now.- Bye-bye.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26- All right, then?- Yes, thank you.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29- You take care. Look after her, all right?- I will. I'll try my best.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37Day surgery bed 52 is cleaned down, ready for its next patient tomorrow.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52The Great North Children's Hospital in Newcastle
0:28:52 > 0:28:55is one of the largest paediatric units in the UK.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03It has its very own A&E, which is open all hours, seven days a week.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06I haven't got any medical beds.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09I need to find a bed on long stay for that patient.
0:29:09 > 0:29:11There are nine beds on the unit,
0:29:11 > 0:29:16which care for young patients who need immediate medical attention.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20We struggle, quite regularly, with the amount of beds we've got.
0:29:20 > 0:29:24It can be quite tricky to judge who needs a bed,
0:29:24 > 0:29:25who can come out of rooms.
0:29:28 > 0:29:32Paediatric bed 27 is ready to receive its next patient.
0:29:35 > 0:29:36It's half past three in the afternoon.
0:29:38 > 0:29:4213-year-old Harvey is brought to bed 27 by Nurse Mills.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44He's in so much pain, he can't stand up.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47Shimmy your bum right up here.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50- Do you want me to lift your other leg?- Do you want me to?
0:29:53 > 0:29:54There you go.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56Harvey's mum Joanne drove him to hospital
0:29:56 > 0:30:00after he injured himself playing badminton.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03- Have you done this to get out of school?- No.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06- You had a 2:15 finish as well. - Oh, did you?
0:30:06 > 0:30:09- Have you had any pain relief at all, Harvey?- Um, no.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11- Would you like some?- Please.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15Harvey is hypermobile or double-jointed.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17It's a hereditary condition that means his joints can move
0:30:17 > 0:30:19beyond the normal range expected.
0:30:19 > 0:30:24Me, my mum, my sister are all double-jointed.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27My mum's knee locked when she was little
0:30:27 > 0:30:29and she had to have an operation
0:30:29 > 0:30:31and my sister's knee locked not long ago.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34Mine used to lock bent, couldn't straighten it.
0:30:34 > 0:30:39I used to sit funny, like a W, like I tell you not to. Mm-hm.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42And my leg locked behind me at a friend's house
0:30:42 > 0:30:45and had to be pulled out and clicked back into place.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49Nurse practitioners in this department work alongside doctors
0:30:49 > 0:30:51assessing patients.
0:30:52 > 0:30:56Nurse Practitioner Ainsley is looking after Harvey.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00- Hello! Have we got Harvey?- Yeah. - Hello, hello, hello.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02Do you want to tell me what's been happening today?
0:31:02 > 0:31:05- I was playing badminton at school. - OK.
0:31:05 > 0:31:09And jumped up to hit it and then, like, landed funny on my leg.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12Did you go over and end up on the ground, or...?
0:31:12 > 0:31:17- I landed and my foot went like that. - OK, so you kind of twisted a bit.
0:31:17 > 0:31:22- And did it feel like your knee locked?- It did, like, afterwards.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25OK. Has this ever happened to you before?
0:31:25 > 0:31:27Like, not as bad as this.
0:31:27 > 0:31:29- He's got hypermobile joints. - Right, OK.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32So he's quite often with his shoulders doing this,
0:31:32 > 0:31:35or like... like that, to click them out.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38- I haven't seen it do this before. - OK.
0:31:38 > 0:31:42But I've had it where it's like it's going to go and he's kicked it out.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45OK, fine. Let's have a wee look at your knees and things first.
0:31:47 > 0:31:51Hypermobility can cause clicking, severe pain,
0:31:51 > 0:31:53and recurrent injuries in joints.
0:31:53 > 0:31:57It affects one in five people in the UK.
0:31:57 > 0:31:59- You've not been able to bend it at all?- No.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02- How have you been getting around since it happened?- Wheelchair.
0:32:02 > 0:32:06Wheelchair from school to car and car to here.
0:32:06 > 0:32:07How's it feel underneath?
0:32:07 > 0:32:11- Really sore.- Really sore. On the outside there OK?
0:32:11 > 0:32:15- Are you sure?- Yeah, I... - Just underneath, OK.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19- Here.- Where I'm touching there, OK.
0:32:19 > 0:32:23- And across your knee.- Mm-hm. - Sorry, sweetheart.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26- Can you lift it straight up? - It hurts.- Can you do that, yeah?
0:32:26 > 0:32:29- Can you keep it there at all? - No.- No?
0:32:31 > 0:32:34Sorry, sweetheart, I'm guessing this is really sore.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36Is that sore as well?
0:32:37 > 0:32:41It's difficult, it does look and feel just that little bit swollen
0:32:41 > 0:32:43around this bottom end here.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46- We'll get some X-rays taken, OK? - Right.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49Then we'll have a look at your pictures when you come back
0:32:49 > 0:32:50and then we'll go from there.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53We'll get a porter to take him round on the trolley, OK?
0:32:53 > 0:32:56- That's brilliant. - Won't be too long.- Thank you.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59I'd prefer for this bed than the one at home
0:32:59 > 0:33:01because I've got to climb up ladders.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04I don't know how I'm going to climb. Probably lie on the sofa bed.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07- You can have the dog's bed tonight. - I can't fit in it anyway.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11All right?
0:33:11 > 0:33:14Hospital porter Neve arrives to take Harvey to X-ray
0:33:14 > 0:33:16on paediatric bed 27.
0:33:16 > 0:33:18Stick them on, there we go.
0:33:18 > 0:33:23'It's really important to ensure that we rule out fractures,'
0:33:23 > 0:33:26dislocations, and sometimes infections in joints.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29The importance of that is quite detrimental to the child
0:33:29 > 0:33:32if we don't follow up these injuries and ensure that the right
0:33:32 > 0:33:35specialities are getting involved from the onset.
0:33:36 > 0:33:40Biggest worry would be crutches and not be able to go back to school.
0:33:40 > 0:33:44Bed 27 will stay with Harvey until he finds out
0:33:44 > 0:33:46just how serious his injury is.
0:33:55 > 0:34:00In the minor injuries unit of the Royal Victoria Infirmary,
0:34:00 > 0:34:02bed two is occupied by 22-year-old Hannah.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06She's come in with a painful abscess on her side.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09- So has anything come out of it? - Yeah, quite a lot.
0:34:09 > 0:34:13Quite a lot of green and black gunk.
0:34:13 > 0:34:17She's worried it might be a sign of a more serious infection.
0:34:17 > 0:34:19Let me have a little look at your tummy, then.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21Come and lie yourself up.
0:34:21 > 0:34:25- Yeah, yeah.- Are you sure? - Just lie back. If you don't mind.
0:34:25 > 0:34:30An abscess is a small collection of pus under the skin surface
0:34:30 > 0:34:32that then grows.
0:34:32 > 0:34:34Sometimes it can just be on the surface,
0:34:34 > 0:34:35sometimes it can be deeper under the skin.
0:34:35 > 0:34:37Oh, yeah, I see what you mean. Just pull that down...
0:34:37 > 0:34:40'Sometimes we don't do anything for them.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42'They have to be, for us to do anything,
0:34:42 > 0:34:46'they have to be a certain size, diameter, firmness.'
0:34:46 > 0:34:49- That's firm, isn't it?- Yeah. Ahhhh!
0:34:49 > 0:34:51- Sorry.- It's OK.
0:34:51 > 0:34:55- Ahhh, it's like the worst pain ever. - I know, I know, I know.
0:34:55 > 0:34:59- Just let me have a quick feel. Everywhere else OK?- Pretty much.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02I think you're a candidate, because it's firm.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04- HANNAH GROANS - OK?
0:35:04 > 0:35:07We'll maybe refer you on to the surgeons. OK?
0:35:07 > 0:35:11Hannah is concerned it might be the superbug MRSA.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15- Once someone's told you about it... - I know.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17- ..I couldn't get it out my head. - I know.
0:35:17 > 0:35:21I was like, "Oh, God, I hope it's not that."
0:35:21 > 0:35:25- But it might be!- Oh, absolutely, you're right to think that, yeah.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27I was like, "I don't want to go into hospital,
0:35:27 > 0:35:30- "cos I don't want to... I don't want to, like, infect everyone."- Yeah.
0:35:30 > 0:35:32- I don't want to be patient zero! - Yeah!
0:35:32 > 0:35:35I think she was concerned that it could be MRSA positive,
0:35:35 > 0:35:38because she'd been talking to some friends.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41I don't know without swabbing it and sending it off.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44Nurse Practitioner Kendall takes a swab of the abscess
0:35:44 > 0:35:46to send for tests.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49- ..I bet you can.- I'm not... - Just give it a little squeeze.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53- Ngh!- Well done, well done.
0:35:53 > 0:35:54It's gross, that, isn't it?
0:35:54 > 0:35:56- Like, it's the least...- It's fine.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59We're all right with things like that.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04Hannah will see a surgeon in the day clinic tomorrow.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07So, you can just leave that dressing on -
0:36:07 > 0:36:08you don't need to worry about it.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10Don't get it wet, it's not waterproof.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13Carry on with the antibiotics, carry on with your painkillers.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16- OK.- Yeah? But hopefully it's going to be fine,
0:36:16 > 0:36:19it might just be that it needs an incision and drainage,
0:36:19 > 0:36:21- and that's what they'll do if they need to tomorrow.- Yeah.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24- Thank you, bye.- Take care, bye-bye.
0:36:26 > 0:36:30Basically, I've got to have minor abscess surgery tomorrow
0:36:30 > 0:36:33at half past seven in the morning,
0:36:33 > 0:36:37which basically just means they're going to cut me open and drain me.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41That's the best sort of possible outcome, really.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45Hannah's boyfriend Joe has come to collect her.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48Have I been worried about it? Yeah.
0:36:48 > 0:36:50You have been really worried.
0:36:50 > 0:36:52Yeah, it's been rubbish. You've had a...
0:36:53 > 0:36:55- You've had a bad time of it, haven't you?- Mm.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58It's... It's just cos we live on our own now,
0:36:58 > 0:37:01we're, like, fully fledged adults,
0:37:01 > 0:37:05and my mam lives really far away, so Joe is like my guardian now!
0:37:05 > 0:37:06Joe looks after me.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09Don't you? She said, "Don't touch it any more," so...
0:37:09 > 0:37:10- Can I not squeeze it any more?- No!
0:37:10 > 0:37:13- That's the best bit. - It really, really hurts.
0:37:13 > 0:37:14Like, loads.
0:37:14 > 0:37:16I can't even sleep on it,
0:37:16 > 0:37:18but tomorrow I'm going to have a big...
0:37:18 > 0:37:21The doctor's going to cut it open and squeeze it out.
0:37:23 > 0:37:26Doctors will also examine the results of blood tests
0:37:26 > 0:37:29to make sure Hannah doesn't have a problem with her immune system.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35Minor injuries bed two will be cleaned thoroughly
0:37:35 > 0:37:37before meeting its next patient.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48It's 4:15 at Newcastle's Great North Children's Hospital.
0:37:50 > 0:37:52Paediatric bed 27 and porter Neve
0:37:52 > 0:37:55are taking 13-year-old Harvey for an X-ray.
0:37:55 > 0:37:56What you done?
0:37:56 > 0:38:00I've locked my knee playing badminton.
0:38:00 > 0:38:01- Have you?- Yeah.
0:38:03 > 0:38:04It's just something stupid.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07You need to pick a more exciting sport, Harvey.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10I thought you would say something like rugby or something.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13I would rather play any of them than badminton.
0:38:14 > 0:38:18During Harvey's PE lesson at school, he dislocated his knee.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22He's hypermobile, or double-jointed,
0:38:22 > 0:38:24but now can't bend his leg.
0:38:27 > 0:38:28- Thanks.- Thanks.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31Do I need my socks off?
0:38:31 > 0:38:32Yeah.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34What about that one?
0:38:34 > 0:38:36Well, no, because they like to compare, don't they?
0:38:36 > 0:38:38They'll want to look at if your feet are different,
0:38:38 > 0:38:42and if your...very hairy ankles are different!
0:38:43 > 0:38:46Hi, Harvey, how are you? My name's Tom.
0:38:46 > 0:38:50Hypermobility is something that runs in his family.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53His mum Joanne and sister also have the condition.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55So, which leg is it we're looking at?
0:38:55 > 0:38:56- Er, this one.- OK.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00X-rays will reveal if anything's broken.
0:39:04 > 0:39:05Nice and still.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12- You're going to go back round to see the doctor now...- OK.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14..and they'll look at the images and decide what to do next.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17- All right?- Yeah.- Probably just cut it off from about there.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19- Hopefully not! - SHE LAUGHS
0:39:22 > 0:39:25Nurse Practitioner Ainsley has brought in A&E consultant
0:39:25 > 0:39:27Mr Jarman for advice.
0:39:27 > 0:39:31So, we've got Harvey in room six at the moment,
0:39:31 > 0:39:35who jumped up and landed quite awkwardly on his left knee.
0:39:35 > 0:39:40What we saw is a lovely X-ray of a normal knee,
0:39:40 > 0:39:42so we know there's no bone injury,
0:39:42 > 0:39:46there seems to be no evidence of bones being in the wrong place,
0:39:46 > 0:39:49such as the dislocation of a kneecap.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52Although patients often refer to their knee as locked
0:39:52 > 0:39:54for a variety of reasons,
0:39:54 > 0:39:57a true medical locked knee is often a situation
0:39:57 > 0:40:00where patients are unable to fully straighten their knee.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02- Let's go and try it.- Let's try it.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04If not, we can always amputate.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08- Hello!- Hello.
0:40:08 > 0:40:09Is this young Harvey?
0:40:09 > 0:40:10- It is, yeah.- How are you?
0:40:10 > 0:40:12- Good.- Fantastic.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14- I'm Dr Bob, and you must be...?- Mum.
0:40:14 > 0:40:19Mum, fantastic. So, you're wanting an amputation, is that right?
0:40:19 > 0:40:21Not yet, not yet. Not for a good few years.
0:40:21 > 0:40:22So, which is your dodgy knee?
0:40:22 > 0:40:24- This one.- Oh, they're both dodgy.
0:40:24 > 0:40:26Is that the dodgy one?
0:40:26 > 0:40:28- That's the one that's been causing trouble today.- Yeah.
0:40:28 > 0:40:32Yeah. OK, we've just had a look at the X-rays. The X-rays look good.
0:40:32 > 0:40:33There's no breaks to the bone,
0:40:33 > 0:40:36there's nothing looks like it's out of place.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38How bad is the pain, out of ten?
0:40:38 > 0:40:39About seven.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43Harvey hasn't broken any bones,
0:40:43 > 0:40:47but Mr Jarman is concerned about the lack of mobility.
0:40:47 > 0:40:50Hold on to this bit and let go of this bit.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54Harvey is given gas and air to ease the pain.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00What we're going to do is have a wee look
0:41:00 > 0:41:01and see if it's just stiffened up,
0:41:01 > 0:41:03and whether or not it's something
0:41:03 > 0:41:05that we can get going with a bit of gentle movement.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07Right.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09Wow, well done - that's brilliant.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11OK, much better.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14Wahey, fantastic!
0:41:14 > 0:41:16So, got nothing falling off so far.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19- You're doing really well. - You're doing really well.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22Fab. We've got some movement, which is fantastic.
0:41:22 > 0:41:24You might actually find it just sort of...
0:41:24 > 0:41:27you know, as soon as he gets some movement back in it,
0:41:27 > 0:41:28- it disappears.- Mm-hm.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31He'll be frightened to move it, so that doesn't help,
0:41:31 > 0:41:33- if you're a bit worried, as well. - OK.
0:41:34 > 0:41:36So, Harvey, our 13-year-old,
0:41:36 > 0:41:39he was able to get some free movement of that knee,
0:41:39 > 0:41:40which was really good.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43His X-ray was just showing soft-tissue injury,
0:41:43 > 0:41:46nothing obvious broken or dislocated at the time.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49He's going to get some follow-up in a week's time
0:41:49 > 0:41:52with one of our A&E consultants to ensure that, you know,
0:41:52 > 0:41:54he's still got no further problems with that knee.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58After just two hours with paediatric bed 27,
0:41:58 > 0:42:01Harvey is able to leave A&E with mum Joanne.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03Are you OK?
0:42:03 > 0:42:06Bed 27 awaits its next patient.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13Our hospital beds have given us intimate access
0:42:13 > 0:42:15to the work of the NHS.
0:42:16 > 0:42:20Susan's still off work and having regular physio.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22She looks set to make a full recovery.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28Harvey was back in hospital three days later with the same problem.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30He's been referred to a physiotherapist
0:42:30 > 0:42:32to strengthen his knee.
0:42:34 > 0:42:36Hannah's surgery went well.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40The hospital diagnosed a staphylococcal infection.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42Her boyfriend Joe caught it, too,
0:42:42 > 0:42:45but, following treatment, they're hoping they're over the worst.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51And, after two weeks, Astrid's eye returned to normal.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55She's looking forward to travelling abroad again soon.
0:42:57 > 0:42:59The beds are now back on their wards,
0:42:59 > 0:43:02ready and waiting for their next round of patients.