0:00:02 > 0:00:06- Hand versus chainsaw. - It looks painful.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09Our hospitals are taking care of more patients than ever.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13You all right?
0:00:15 > 0:00:18With medical teams under constant pressure...
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Can Dr Pizzi come to resus, please?
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Somebody as poorly as this little one,
0:00:22 > 0:00:24we really need to treat them quickly.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26..to meet our expectations.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30I'm just worried about what it's going to be like afterwards.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33But there's a crucial member of the team we sometimes forget...
0:00:33 > 0:00:37I've never ever been on a bed like this.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39..the hospital bed.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41Another ward, another story,
0:00:41 > 0:00:43another bed.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49In our lifetime, we are likely to need one of them
0:00:49 > 0:00:50at least three times.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53I've probably spent a quarter of my life on a hospital bed!
0:00:54 > 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 > 0:01:09We'll see the world through the bed's eyes...
0:01:09 > 0:01:10Hello, my love, hiya.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13..as they share the most challenging...
0:01:13 > 0:01:16I don't know what to do, I don't know.
0:01:16 > 0:01:17..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 > 0:01:32- Thank you for being here. - I wouldn't be anywhere else.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Hospital cannot function without beds.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36Beds are vital.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38This is...
0:01:47 > 0:01:48Across the UK,
0:01:48 > 0:01:52an increasing number of women are having children later in life.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56And at Queen's Hospital in Romford, Essex,
0:01:56 > 0:02:00more than 50% of first-time mums are over 30.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03Do you know where the maternity triage...?
0:02:03 > 0:02:06Yes, yes. She needs to come to the checkup, all right?
0:02:07 > 0:02:10OK, bye.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14The hospital's maternity unit has 25 beds which never rest.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20Each one helps deliver around two babies every day.
0:02:20 > 0:02:21Hello, little lady.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25Maternity bed six is joined by first-time mum-to-be-Shola,
0:02:25 > 0:02:27who is 49.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29She's having triplets.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34When people see you're 49, you're pregnant, they say, "Wow!"
0:02:34 > 0:02:37Carrying triplets? "Wow!
0:02:37 > 0:02:40"How are you coping? How are you doing?"
0:02:40 > 0:02:41I just cope, carry very well.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46I say, "I'm young, it's just all in the mind, isn't it?"
0:02:46 > 0:02:48Do you need some water or something?
0:02:48 > 0:02:52Shola and her husband Ike have been trying for a baby for 20 years.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58This is like a 19-20 years journey for us,
0:02:58 > 0:03:00we've been trying to have children.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03The couple are devout Christians.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Their church pastor predicted they would have triplets.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11"By this time next year, you will come,
0:03:11 > 0:03:14"you will carry one child, your husband will carry another one
0:03:14 > 0:03:17"and the grandmother will carry another one,"
0:03:17 > 0:03:22so when he said that, that's when I realised that God had a plan.
0:03:23 > 0:03:28Shola's pregnancy is high-risk because she is carrying three babies
0:03:28 > 0:03:29and she's almost 50.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36Midwife Alexander is on duty today.
0:03:39 > 0:03:40Hello.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43Shola has been admitted to the prenatal ward for monitoring.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47One of the babies is seriously underweight.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Midwife Alexander has to check every six hours
0:03:53 > 0:03:56that all the babies' hearts are still beating.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00We're doing a cardiotocogram.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03Three babies' heartbeats can be hard to find.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05Right, so that's the first baby.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07This is the first triplet.
0:04:08 > 0:04:09It's a good baby!
0:04:10 > 0:04:13So, we actually need half an hour for this.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16- I'm not going to move. - I'm not going to move!
0:04:16 > 0:04:18I'm going to lie down here.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20The most important thing is that they all have
0:04:20 > 0:04:24a different heart rate, so we know they are all different individuals.
0:04:24 > 0:04:30The baby we are most worried about, he's smaller than the other two.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34They will all need support, all three of them, yeah.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37They're only 32 weeks, that's why it's so difficult.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40The babies, they're still very little.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43Let me see if I can find this one back first.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46I'm trying to look for the second baby.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02She's struggling to find the smallest baby's heartbeat.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07I haven't got all three of them yet.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15I'm just going to feel her tummy and see if I can feel their backs.
0:05:18 > 0:05:19If we're struggling too much,
0:05:19 > 0:05:21you will have to have another scan done.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Let me see if I can feel this one.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38There we go. At last!
0:05:39 > 0:05:45So, we've got 139, 140, and 136.
0:05:45 > 0:05:46The heart rates are normal.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50With one baby seriously underweight,
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Shola's triplets will be delivered more than a month early
0:05:53 > 0:05:54by Caesarean section.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57I'm looking forward to going home with my babies, so, yeah,
0:05:57 > 0:05:59that's the most important thing now.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03Today will be the last day of being two.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06From tomorrow, we are now five.
0:06:06 > 0:06:07Is that not amazing?
0:06:10 > 0:06:13Maternity bed six will stay with Shola until her babies
0:06:13 > 0:06:16are born in less than 24 hours.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19Even if it's an elective Caesarean section,
0:06:19 > 0:06:23there is always risk with surgery, so, yes,
0:06:23 > 0:06:27it's always a risk when it comes to Caesarean sections.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43Last year, 25,000 people were killed or seriously injured
0:06:43 > 0:06:45on Britain's roads.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49At Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary,
0:06:49 > 0:06:52more than 1% of people who come to the A&E department
0:06:52 > 0:06:54have been in a car accident.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57I've got you booked in, Margaret. We'll get you seen to, pet.
0:06:57 > 0:06:58Just have a seat.
0:06:59 > 0:07:04The unit's 29 beds are the ones most under pressure in the hospital.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06The teams here aim to diagnose,
0:07:06 > 0:07:09treat and discharge patients within just four hours.
0:07:13 > 0:07:18A&E bed nine is waiting for its next patient, 35-year-old actor Stuart.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22He's been involved in a high-speed car crash.
0:07:23 > 0:07:24With no passenger air bag,
0:07:24 > 0:07:27Stuart smashed his chest, wrist and finger.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33Unfortunately, we've been involved in a massive car crash
0:07:33 > 0:07:36and paramedics have said, "Go and get checked out at A&E."
0:07:36 > 0:07:39Stuart's friend Tom was driving, but he is uninjured.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44I'm quite concerned about the state of my right lung,
0:07:44 > 0:07:45if I'm being honest,
0:07:45 > 0:07:50because breathing in, there's kind of a stabbing pain, so that's...
0:07:50 > 0:07:52And then getting home, I suppose,
0:07:52 > 0:07:54because the thing that was going to get us home
0:07:54 > 0:07:57is the thing that we broke when we crashed it, so...
0:07:58 > 0:08:01The van... The van is a write-off.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07Stuart is taken to A&E bed nine.
0:08:09 > 0:08:10Hello. Is it Mr Kerry?
0:08:10 > 0:08:13- It is indeed. - Hi, I'm Ben, I'm one of the doctors.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15Dr Earle-Wright will assess what injuries
0:08:15 > 0:08:18the high-speed collision may have caused Stuart.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23I understand you had a bit of an accident.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25Did the airbags go off?
0:08:25 > 0:08:27The one for the driver, my friend Tom, did,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29but I didn't have one, I'm afraid.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32You didn't have one. Right, OK.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35And what did the car look like? Was it pretty mashed?
0:08:35 > 0:08:37- Yeah. Yeah, concertinaed.- Right, OK.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39Do you want to sit yourself back?
0:08:39 > 0:08:40Yeah, yeah.
0:08:43 > 0:08:48- OK. Can you take the T-shirt off for me?- Yes, of course.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50OK. Yeah, you've got a decent...
0:08:50 > 0:08:52- Yeah.- ..a decent mark.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55When I press on your chest over this side, is it sore at all?
0:08:55 > 0:08:57Not really, no. Once you get to the middle.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00- No shortness of breath?- No, no.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03If you take a really deep breath in, does it hurt anywhere?
0:09:04 > 0:09:07It's a little bit, kind of...
0:09:07 > 0:09:09Pokey is the way I'd feel it.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12I'd probably say 2/10 on the pain scale.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14- And what about pain around here?- No.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17- Just going to have a quick feel of this, OK?- Yeah.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20- Is it quite sore there? - That's tender, yeah.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22What about under, under here on your ribs?
0:09:22 > 0:09:26- Not so bad, actually.- Not so bad? - No, not so bad at all.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28- Ooh!- Just there as well.- Yeah.- OK.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30Can you sit forward for us?
0:09:30 > 0:09:32Oh, that's quite painful!
0:09:32 > 0:09:34Quick listen to your chest.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Deep breaths in and out.
0:09:36 > 0:09:37And out.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42An X-ray will show if Stuart has any internal damage.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46Around 60% of people who are involved in car crashes
0:09:46 > 0:09:48have broken ribs.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52These fractures can cause serious organ damage.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55I'll give my missus a ring because she's very worried
0:09:55 > 0:09:57and wants to be kept updated.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59- I'll be right back.- OK, thank you. - All right?
0:10:01 > 0:10:04Hello, darling. They're just going to take me to get a chest X-ray
0:10:04 > 0:10:05and to X-ray my finger.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07So it's all good.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10So do I.
0:10:10 > 0:10:11I want to come home.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13Yes, bye. Bye-bye. Bye.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19Friend Tom comes to see how Stuart is getting on.
0:10:19 > 0:10:20Still alive?
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Yeah, I'm still alive. They'll take me to get some X-rays
0:10:23 > 0:10:25and then once he's looked at the X-rays,
0:10:25 > 0:10:28hopefully I'll be off and then we can go.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30That's awesome.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36A&E bed nine is on the move to the X-ray department.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45Stuart's X-ray will determine whether he has
0:10:45 > 0:10:47broken ribs or a damaged lung.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58Next door, the Great North Children's Hospital
0:10:58 > 0:11:00has its own paediatric A&E department.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06Every week, more than 200 children arrive here
0:11:06 > 0:11:07with a suspected broken bone.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09That's not a complete fracture.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12The nine beds on this unit are never off duty,
0:11:12 > 0:11:15dealing with the youngest and often most scared patients.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19- I don't want that!- Oh, no, it's OK!
0:11:19 > 0:11:20Don't cry, it's OK!
0:11:23 > 0:11:28Paediatric A&E bed 27 is getting ready to meet seven-year-old Oliver.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30He's got a suspected fractured ankle.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32Come on, hop on here for me, darling.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37Nurse Carmichael examines Oliver.
0:11:39 > 0:11:44I was on my bike and went down the hill and I was riding it standing up
0:11:44 > 0:11:45and there was a big bump.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48My handlebars turned and my head smashed off the ground.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50Your head smashed off the ground?
0:11:50 > 0:11:52Yeah, but it's just...
0:11:52 > 0:11:56Oliver has been brought into A&E by his mum, Dawn, and sister, Stacy.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59All right, there's nothing. Got a little bit of a bump?
0:11:59 > 0:12:01- It's OK.- Is it sore?
0:12:01 > 0:12:03No?
0:12:03 > 0:12:05He's always falling off this bike.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Always. And hurting himself.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09He's got quite a few scars off this bike.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11He's a good child. He can be very tricky.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15But he is a good child.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18Is it sore right now or is it just sore when you walk?
0:12:18 > 0:12:20- Walk.- So, on a scale of one to ten,
0:12:20 > 0:12:24so if you can imagine number ten is the worst pain ever in the world,
0:12:24 > 0:12:26OK, and zero is no pain at all,
0:12:26 > 0:12:28what number do you think you are at now?
0:12:28 > 0:12:31- Seven.- Seven? Are you sure?
0:12:32 > 0:12:36I've never seen someone with a seven smile like that!
0:12:38 > 0:12:42On duty today is Nurse Practitioner Rutherford.
0:12:42 > 0:12:43Hiya, is this Oliver?
0:12:43 > 0:12:45- Yeah, it is.- Hiya.
0:12:45 > 0:12:46I'm Elaine. Can I have a little feel?
0:12:48 > 0:12:52- Where is it most sore? You tell me where it hurts most.- There.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54It hurts there. OK. What about over here?
0:12:54 > 0:12:56- Yeah.- Is it sore? All right.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00I've examined him and he is a little bit sore over his ankle and it is
0:13:00 > 0:13:03quite swollen, so based on that, I'm going to send him for an X-ray,
0:13:03 > 0:13:06just to make sure that there's no fracture or anything there.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09I'll spin you round and we'll get you down for an X-ray.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11Is that all right?
0:13:11 > 0:13:12Yeah? OK.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Oliver may have broken his ankle.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21Paediatric bed 27 takes Oliver to X-ray.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24The bed can actually go into the X-ray department.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27The plate just needs to be slipped underneath whatever part
0:13:27 > 0:13:30needs to be X-rayed and it saves having to move the patient
0:13:30 > 0:13:33off the trolley and then onto another trolley
0:13:33 > 0:13:35once they are down in the X-ray department.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Just take him through and I'll get the paperwork booked straight in.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41- Thank you.- All right?
0:13:42 > 0:13:45I don't want to go for...
0:13:45 > 0:13:47It's just getting a picture, sweetheart, it's all right.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51I don't want it to be broken.
0:13:51 > 0:13:52Well, it might not be.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57There we go.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01At least two-thirds of boys will break a bone in their body
0:14:01 > 0:14:02before they leave school.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05All finished.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07- Well done.- Well done.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13Oliver and bed 27 are wheeled back to the paediatrics ward
0:14:13 > 0:14:14to wait for the results.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27So, what do you think they're going to do to your foot?
0:14:27 > 0:14:30- Put a cast on. - How are you going to get to school?
0:14:30 > 0:14:31Crutches.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34If you can't use crutches, it'll have to be a chair.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36Aw!
0:14:36 > 0:14:38- Do you prefer the bed?- Yeah.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40You'd want to be wheeled to school on a bed?
0:14:40 > 0:14:43Oliver will still be going to school.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45Cast or no cast, he's still going.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50Nurse Practitioner Rutherford is back with news from the X-ray.
0:14:50 > 0:14:51I had a look at your X-ray.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54I can't see any obvious fracture or anything on it.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56I think it's probably just bruised
0:14:56 > 0:14:58and obviously a bit swollen and things,
0:14:58 > 0:15:00so I think that is probably what's hurting him.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02The fact that he's got these abrasions as well,
0:15:02 > 0:15:05I think they're going to be causing him some pain.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09The plan is that we will just clean him up and we'll send him home
0:15:09 > 0:15:13with some advice to rest it over the next sort of 24, 48 hours.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15I'm just going to try and get him up,
0:15:15 > 0:15:18try and make sure that he will put some weight through his leg
0:15:18 > 0:15:21and then, all being well, we'll be able to send him home.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24Nurse Carmichael checks Oliver's pain level again.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28So, do you remember before, when you said you were a seven?
0:15:28 > 0:15:30The best seven I've ever seen!
0:15:30 > 0:15:32- What are you now, darling?- Zero.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34You're a zero, yeah!
0:15:34 > 0:15:37See, I told you you'd go home with a lesser number!
0:15:40 > 0:15:42With his pain level down...
0:15:42 > 0:15:45- I think I can walk on it. - Oh, that's good.
0:15:45 > 0:15:46..Oliver is discharged.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50Good lad. Well done, sweetheart, you were very brave.
0:15:50 > 0:15:51Thank you very much.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54Paediatric bed 27 is free for its next patient.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58Thank you.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06Around the corner, in the adult A&E department,
0:16:06 > 0:16:09bed nine is still with 35-year-old actor Stuart.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Just lean forward, I'm going to put this hard board in behind your back.
0:16:14 > 0:16:15OK.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20He may have multiple fractures after a high-speed car crash.
0:16:23 > 0:16:24Take a breath in there.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Hold it in. And breathe away.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39Stuart and bed nine head back to the examination room
0:16:39 > 0:16:41to await the results of his X-rays.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43They're going to come in any minute and say,
0:16:43 > 0:16:46"Stop being a wimp, nothing is broken,"
0:16:46 > 0:16:49and then we can go home, which will be nice.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54Stuart has been in A&E bed nine for an hour and a half.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Dr Earle-Wright has his X-ray results.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05- How are we doing?- Good.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Your X-ray is absolutely fine, OK? You've not broken anything.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11- Fantastic, hooray! - That's just a decent bruise,
0:17:11 > 0:17:13- you don't have any rib fractures underneath it.- Excellent.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17It will, over the next three, four days, it will be sore.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20- Right, yeah, yeah.- Your finger is fine, there's no break.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23- Oh, brilliant.- It didn't break and your wrist is also fine.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26- Invincible!- Yes, absolutely!
0:17:26 > 0:17:27- Do you have any questions? - No, thank you.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Thank you very much for sorting me out so quickly.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32- Not a problem at all. - You are legends.
0:17:32 > 0:17:37But with their van written off, friend Tom does have one question.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39How do we get down south?
0:17:39 > 0:17:40We'll figure that out.
0:17:42 > 0:17:43All right.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48- Right, have a safe journey. - Ha-ha-ha!
0:17:48 > 0:17:52- All right, guys, see you, cheers. - Thank you.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56Less than two hours after arriving in A&E, Stuart is discharged.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01Farewell, bed, you served me well.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09A&E bed nine is prepared for its next emergency.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19At Queen's Hospital, Romford,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22maternity bed six is with 49-year-old Shola.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25Today she is having triplets by Caesarean section.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31- Morning.- It's a very risky and complicated birth.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36Shola's husband Ike will be with her in theatre.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39- I'd like to take you down to the labour ward, please.- Yay!
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Do I go with all my notes?
0:18:42 > 0:18:44- Everything.- I'm ready.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46I'll just get the midwife to come and get you.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48OK. Am I walking down?
0:18:48 > 0:18:53Less than 200 women in the UK gave birth to triplets last year.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56- Pleasure to meet you both. You're in good hands.- Thank you.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59Thank you, thank you very much.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04The mortality rate for triplets is ten times higher
0:19:04 > 0:19:05than for single births.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15Midwife Pattinson will be one of more than a dozen medical staff
0:19:15 > 0:19:17helping to deliver Shola's three babies.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21We will have three midwives
0:19:21 > 0:19:23so that there's a midwife to take each baby.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25We have three of the resuscitaires,
0:19:25 > 0:19:27so the equipment to resuscitate the babies, if we need.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30We will also have three paediatricians present,
0:19:30 > 0:19:33one for each baby, and then on top of that,
0:19:33 > 0:19:35we will have the normal theatre team as well.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40After trying to have children for 20 years,
0:19:40 > 0:19:42Shola is now carrying two sons and a daughter.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47Have you got hats for baby, your hats?
0:19:47 > 0:19:48- Yeah.- Yeah?
0:19:50 > 0:19:53Consultant gynaecologist Mr Opemuyi
0:19:53 > 0:19:55is in charge of Shola's Caesarean.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59The average pregnancy lasts around 40 weeks,
0:19:59 > 0:20:02but triplets are often born prematurely.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06I've had to adjust the timing of the delivery
0:20:06 > 0:20:08and she is only about 33 weeks today,
0:20:08 > 0:20:11and what is important is the safety of the babies.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15It's 8.49am and time to go into theatre.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20Maternity bed six will have to stay on the ward.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22OK? All right?
0:20:22 > 0:20:24Would I be allowed to take pictures in there?
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Yes, of course, yes.
0:20:27 > 0:20:28We have a waiting game.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30The prayer warriors!
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Hello, morning.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35So, just before you step up, my name is Susan,
0:20:35 > 0:20:37- part of the anaesthetic team here. - OK.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39So, if I can just get your gown undone here.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42So, what you are going to do is step up onto this stool,
0:20:42 > 0:20:44turn around and face the wall there.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Excited and elated.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51Yeah.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54Shola's friends, Olushola and Stella,
0:20:54 > 0:20:58are waiting in her room with maternity bed six.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02I'm so happy for Shola that she has got this, God has been good to her.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04Yeah.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08To know that she is going to be a mother of triplets today,
0:21:08 > 0:21:10it's amazing.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13She has waited a long time.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16- Sir, you are about to have three babies, come on!- All right.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18Yeah, come on, then.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21- She's doing very well, all right? - Oh, thank you.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23- She's fine.- All right.- Follow me.
0:21:25 > 0:21:30Shola's two friends know the risks involved with multiple births,
0:21:30 > 0:21:32but the hope is that within the hour,
0:21:32 > 0:21:34Shola will have three healthy babies.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48Next door, at the Great North Children's Hospital,
0:21:48 > 0:21:50head injuries are the fifth most common reason
0:21:50 > 0:21:52children are brought to the A&E department.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Hello, Paed A&E.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58Bed 27 is prepped for nine-year-old Bobby.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02I won't be long, I've just got a kid in X-ray that I need to review
0:22:02 > 0:22:03and then I'll be ready.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05He's cut his head open.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07His parents, Kerry and Stephen,
0:22:07 > 0:22:11are concerned he may have concussion.
0:22:11 > 0:22:12My son was out walking his dogs
0:22:12 > 0:22:15and he fell and bumped his head and it split the skin.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17I sort of tried, um...
0:22:18 > 0:22:22..down the stream for my dog, I went to get it
0:22:22 > 0:22:25and I slipped and bashed my head off the rock.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27It just stings a bit.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31Yeah, my forehead.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35He stood up and he had blood running down his forehead.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38Nurse Practitioner Raine is the nurse in charge
0:22:38 > 0:22:40of the emergency team today.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42All parents are upset, naturally,
0:22:42 > 0:22:45when they see their child has been hurt or they are unwell.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49Especially coming to an environment like this.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52Bobby, if you can have a seat on that bed for me...
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Bobby is examined by Nurse Park.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59- Are you allergic to anything? - No.- Not that you know of?
0:22:59 > 0:23:02- Just baths! - LAUGHTER
0:23:02 > 0:23:05- And has he had any paracetamol or ibuprofen today?- No.- No.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08Right, I'm just going to do the obs on you.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11Pop this little plaster on your finger.
0:23:11 > 0:23:16- How do you feel? - Em, OK - my cut stings a bit.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19It hurts, but you don't feel dizzy or anything?
0:23:19 > 0:23:20No?
0:23:22 > 0:23:27In the UK, nearly 750,000 children under the age of 15
0:23:27 > 0:23:29come to A&E with a head injury.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34I think any head injury, you've just got to make sure
0:23:34 > 0:23:36that there is nothing going on underneath,
0:23:36 > 0:23:37like a serious bleed.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41We need to assess that they're fully awake,
0:23:41 > 0:23:43that they haven't lost any consciousness,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46they haven't vomited, and then just have a little look
0:23:46 > 0:23:49at his eyes and his ears, up his nose.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51You are a brave soldier, aren't you, son?
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Right, can you squeeze my hands nice and tight?
0:23:54 > 0:23:56And this... Oh, you'll end up breaking them!
0:23:56 > 0:23:58Squeeze them nice and tight.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02Right, perfect. They're all absolutely fine.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07I think he's just got a big laceration to his head,
0:24:07 > 0:24:10his obs are fine.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Does the cut...? It will just heal by itself?
0:24:13 > 0:24:16- Does it need, like...? - No, it'll probably need a glue.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19Looking at it, it might come together with glue.
0:24:19 > 0:24:20We'll see how it goes.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23- Thank you so much, thank you. - Thanks very much.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26Bye. Yay!
0:24:26 > 0:24:27If you're going to be made up with glue,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30you'll be like a model, won't you, son?
0:24:30 > 0:24:33The wound on his head is about two centimetres long,
0:24:33 > 0:24:37slightly gaping, so my plan is to give them a little clean
0:24:37 > 0:24:39and then pop some glue on there
0:24:39 > 0:24:42just to hold it, so that it can heal.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44Big day off school tomorrow.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46I had a big cut there on my head.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49You can see it if you look. Look at Dad's cut.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52Now I'm going to look like a mixture between both of you.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55I've got my ma's red hair, I've got your looks.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58- KERRY LAUGHS - At least you're good-looking, then, son.
0:24:58 > 0:24:59You've got his scar and my red hair!
0:24:59 > 0:25:02Do you forgive Mum for landing on you like a fat lump?
0:25:02 > 0:25:04Yeah.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10So, having stitches would be a lot more painful for Bobby.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12Hello, have we got Bobby?
0:25:12 > 0:25:16- Yes.- It would involve some local anaesthetic on the area,
0:25:16 > 0:25:19which is usually a needle and then using, you know,
0:25:19 > 0:25:22needle and thread to sew it back together.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24Will it sting?
0:25:24 > 0:25:28It might just feel a bit cold. It's just sterile water.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30He's brave, aren't you, son?
0:25:30 > 0:25:36Just trying to get these little bits lovely and clean, there.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39So, you will have a little scar here,
0:25:39 > 0:25:41but you won't know it's there unless one day
0:25:41 > 0:25:43you get your hair shaved off.
0:25:43 > 0:25:44What type of glue is it?
0:25:44 > 0:25:49So, it's just tissue glue, so they used to...
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Even like back in World War I and II they used it,
0:25:51 > 0:25:54but we've developed it a bit more than superglue and things now.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57- Are you ready?- Mm-hm.- Yeah?
0:25:59 > 0:26:01- Clever lad.- It may just feel a little bit warm now.
0:26:01 > 0:26:02It doesn't feel that warm.
0:26:02 > 0:26:08Stay here for a few seconds, maybe count to ten, shall we?
0:26:08 > 0:26:10One, two, three...
0:26:12 > 0:26:14That looks like it's together lovely.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16Just keep it dry, no swimming,
0:26:16 > 0:26:19no hair washes for about...five to seven days.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21Is that all right?
0:26:21 > 0:26:24- Thank you so much for your help. - What a super boy!
0:26:24 > 0:26:27How are you feeling now, son? Let's look at the glue.
0:26:27 > 0:26:28Oh, wow!
0:26:29 > 0:26:32- Maybe don't touch it. - It looks brill, doesn't it?
0:26:32 > 0:26:33That looks brilliant, son.
0:26:33 > 0:26:38Less than two hours after being admitted, Bobby can go home.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40Come on, then, let's go.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44But for paediatric bed 27, the next patient could be here soon.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55At Queen's Hospital in Romford,
0:26:55 > 0:26:59maternity bed six is empty and will be for a while.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01Keep coming back until I ask you to stop.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03Keep coming back. Well done. That's perfect.
0:27:04 > 0:27:0949-year-old Shola is having triplets by Caesarean section.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Gosh, you're brave! Three of them!
0:27:11 > 0:27:14- I know.- Oh, dear, you're brave.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17- Buy one, get two free. - Oh, lovely - Tesco's don't do that!
0:27:18 > 0:27:21Shola is one of the many mums giving birth later in life.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25In the last decade,
0:27:25 > 0:27:30the number of women having babies over the age of 45 has trebled.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33Husband Ike will be by her side throughout.
0:27:38 > 0:27:43- Are you all right?- I'm all right. - You're all right. Good.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47There will be three midwives in theatre today, one for each baby.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Midwife Pattinson is one of them.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53Multiple pregnancy is high-risk.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56No matter how many babies, it's high-risk in itself
0:27:56 > 0:27:58and the triplets will be delivered at 33 weeks,
0:27:58 > 0:28:01so obviously that is quite a bit
0:28:01 > 0:28:03before they're classified as term babies,
0:28:03 > 0:28:06so that makes them then high-risk,
0:28:06 > 0:28:08and they are smaller anyway because there are three of them
0:28:08 > 0:28:12trying to fit into the same space as one baby would
0:28:12 > 0:28:14in a single pregnancy.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19Today's procedure also carries danger for Shola.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23She has a greater risk of haemorrhaging during the delivery.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31At the side of maternity bed six, Shola's friends,
0:28:31 > 0:28:34Olushola and Stella, are waiting for news.
0:28:53 > 0:28:57They're up and running, Shola - just wait and see who comes first.
0:29:00 > 0:29:04At just 33 weeks, the triplets are being delivered prematurely.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08There are concerns one of the babies is very small.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27Shola's friends are still by the side of maternity bed six.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29Jesus, we thank you.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34Shola has been in theatre for 25 minutes.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37BABY CRIES
0:29:37 > 0:29:40The couple have waited nearly two decades for this moment.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45The first baby is born.
0:29:46 > 0:29:47It's a boy.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58Then, one minute later...
0:29:58 > 0:30:00BABY CRIES
0:30:00 > 0:30:04There we go, number two. There we go.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07Crying, that's a good sign.
0:30:07 > 0:30:12Another boy - he is only 2 lbs 4oz.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15Crying, so that is a good sign.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21We just wait for number three now.
0:30:31 > 0:30:36This baby needs extra medical help and is placed in an incubator.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46Finally, after just five more minutes,
0:30:46 > 0:30:49baby three, a girl, is born.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52- BABY CRIES - This one has to be a girl now.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55Congratulations! Three babies!
0:31:06 > 0:31:08Sorry, boys.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10All the babies have been delivered safely.
0:31:14 > 0:31:16On the ward, with maternity bed six,
0:31:16 > 0:31:20are Shola's friends, Olushola and Stella.
0:31:20 > 0:31:24# Perfect God You are excellent, God
0:31:24 > 0:31:28# Perfect God You are excellent, God
0:31:28 > 0:31:31# Perfect God You are excellent, God... #
0:31:34 > 0:31:37Good to get that done now, babies out, it's a relief,
0:31:37 > 0:31:39isn't it, that they're out?
0:31:39 > 0:31:41- They were all crying well, weren't they?- Yes.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43Good, lovely.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46BEEPING
0:31:46 > 0:31:48Go with him, Molly, go with him.
0:31:48 > 0:31:53- Yeah, and then... - This the girl?- The girl!
0:31:53 > 0:31:55This is the little girl, yeah.
0:31:57 > 0:32:00To see them...very cute.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03Lovely babies.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06Wow, I'm so happy, I'm so happy!
0:32:06 > 0:32:09Thank you so much. Thank God for you, thank God for you.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11Right from the beginning to the end.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14- Yes.- Thankful for the successful completion of the journey.
0:32:14 > 0:32:18- We are very grateful, thank you so much.- Thank you.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21# Perfect God You are wonderful, God
0:32:21 > 0:32:25# You are perfect, God... #
0:32:27 > 0:32:29As the triplets are premature,
0:32:29 > 0:32:33they'll be taken straight to the neonatal intensive care unit.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35Shola and Ike will visit them later.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51At Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary,
0:32:51 > 0:32:56the A&E's minor injuries unit often sees sports injuries.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58That patient is just about to go round
0:32:58 > 0:33:03and this gentleman is not well enough to move at the minute.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06Do see quite a few sports-related injuries,
0:33:06 > 0:33:09usually when the unis are having their sport afternoons
0:33:09 > 0:33:11when the football's on or the rugby's on.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16Nurse practitioner Scorgie is in charge of the unit today.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20Minor injuries is a nurse-led unit
0:33:20 > 0:33:23that's co-located with the emergency department
0:33:23 > 0:33:28and we are open seven days a week and our patients are deemed minor.
0:33:28 > 0:33:32Minor injuries bed 12 is used to seeing patients
0:33:32 > 0:33:36with anything from sprains to bruises and broken bones.
0:33:36 > 0:33:40Its next patient is 20-year-old geography student James.
0:33:40 > 0:33:42OK, if you'd like to take a seat through there.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45We'll come through as soon as we can. Thanks very much indeed.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49He's come to A&E with girlfriend Melissa,
0:33:49 > 0:33:53with a suspected broken finger after playing rugby.
0:33:53 > 0:33:55Somebody tackled me and I brushed past
0:33:55 > 0:33:58and my finger just sort of bent out that way
0:33:58 > 0:34:01and I fell on it and it bent back in again when I fell on it.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04And then it's been really sore since.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06I don't want to leave it to its own devices and recover
0:34:06 > 0:34:07because if it is broken or something,
0:34:07 > 0:34:09I want to make sure it's fixed properly
0:34:09 > 0:34:11before it starts healing itself.
0:34:11 > 0:34:15Rugby is one of the top ten most dangerous sports.
0:34:15 > 0:34:17It's not the first time James has been injured.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20I sprained my ankle once and I broke my nose once,
0:34:20 > 0:34:22so this is not the worst I've ever had.
0:34:22 > 0:34:24Obviously it's a very risky sport,
0:34:24 > 0:34:27it's quite high-contact and there's...big boys as well.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30Like 19-20st people running at you, full-pelt.
0:34:30 > 0:34:31It can be quite dangerous.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34Do you want to come through?
0:34:34 > 0:34:38Minor injuries bed 12 will be looking after James.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42Quite comfy.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44Nurse Practitioner Scorgie examines his injuries.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47- Mind if I just have a feel...? - Yeah, go for it.
0:34:48 > 0:34:49No pain down your wrist?
0:34:49 > 0:34:52It was hurting down there when it first happened.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54- That's not painful now? - It's not painful any more, no.
0:34:54 > 0:34:55And just check your hand over.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58- Everything else all right there in your hand?- Yeah.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01- Starts to hurt there.- OK.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04- Here? Bit more tender? - Yeah, yeah.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06- Finger?- Not too bad, actually.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08- Pain here?- Yeah.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11Can you just pull your fingers up all nice and straight for me, if you can?
0:35:11 > 0:35:12Ooh!
0:35:12 > 0:35:15Keep your fingers like that, don't let me push you down.
0:35:16 > 0:35:18That one?
0:35:18 > 0:35:22- That's fine. Yeah, just the pinkie. - Turn your hand over.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25Can you make a fist for me?
0:35:25 > 0:35:28Keep it in that position, turn it back over.
0:35:28 > 0:35:30Straight back out. Feel me touching you?
0:35:30 > 0:35:33- Feels the same and normal? - Yeah.- Yep.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36OK, so we need to get an X-ray of that hand, OK?
0:35:36 > 0:35:38- Yep.- So I'll organise that for you now.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41And you can pop straight round to get your hand X-rayed.
0:35:41 > 0:35:43- Lovely. Thank you.- OK?- Cheers.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46James leaves bed 12.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50He's heading to the X-ray department to see if his finger is broken.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53Hello, James, my name's Louise, one of the radiographers here.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56I'm going to do a couple of X-rays on your left hand.
0:35:56 > 0:35:58Nice and still like that, please.
0:35:59 > 0:36:03The X-ray reveals a break in the bone on James's hand.
0:36:04 > 0:36:06OK...
0:36:06 > 0:36:10Nurse practitioner Scorgie gives James the news.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13OK, James, so you've been round to X-ray, had your X-ray,
0:36:13 > 0:36:14so your hand's broken.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16- It's broken?- Yeah, yeah.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20- OK?- Yeah.- So we can show you that on the X-ray.- Yeah.
0:36:20 > 0:36:21Come on, pop over.
0:36:23 > 0:36:26So this is your X-ray here. We'll start on the top.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29- Yeah.- So...see?- Yeah.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32So that's there and that would fit with you,
0:36:32 > 0:36:34seeing as your finger got pulled out that way.
0:36:34 > 0:36:35So that's why it's literally
0:36:35 > 0:36:36broken the bone?
0:36:36 > 0:36:38With the stress on there. Big metacarpal.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41So this is something that our hand surgeons look after here,
0:36:41 > 0:36:43a stress injury.
0:36:45 > 0:36:49It's a serious fracture that will need assessing by a hand surgeon.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52- You can have a seat there and I'll go and organise the appointment. - Just here?- Yeah.
0:36:52 > 0:36:57- What were you expecting? - A broken finger, not your hand.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00- I'm not dramatic, am I?- I thought you were being quite dramatic.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02Have you seen how swollen it is?
0:37:02 > 0:37:03Yeah, no, I didn't think it was that swollen
0:37:03 > 0:37:05until you took your tape off it.
0:37:05 > 0:37:11I wasn't being dramatic at all. You thought I was making it up.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15I thought he was being dramatic about it, so...
0:37:15 > 0:37:18He just kept complaining and I was like, "Oh, OK."
0:37:18 > 0:37:20She never listens to a word I say, so...
0:37:20 > 0:37:22I really thought he hadn't done anything.
0:37:22 > 0:37:24I thought we'd come and they'd be like,
0:37:24 > 0:37:27"Oh, no, it's fine." But it's broken.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31James has broken his fifth metacarpal.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35Even though I've broken my hand, I'm still going to go out.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38- You're a legend. - The party lives on.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41- Everyone will be gutted if I'm not there.- OK.
0:37:41 > 0:37:43So even if I've broken my hand, I have to go.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47- Go to where?- Going out tonight with the rugby boys.
0:37:47 > 0:37:51OK, well, your appointment's at 10.25 in the morning.
0:37:51 > 0:37:52Maybe I shall not go out then!
0:37:52 > 0:37:55- So that's your appointment to come in tomorrow.- Thank you.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57- Do I need this with me? - Yeah, it's best to,
0:37:57 > 0:37:59and it does tell you on that you should be fasting from midnight,
0:37:59 > 0:38:01so I probably would follow the instructions
0:38:01 > 0:38:02just to be on the safe side.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05- So don't eat after midnight? - Yeah.- OK.- OK?
0:38:05 > 0:38:09- No two o'clock in the morning kebabs then?- Absolutely not.- Shame.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12OK, I'll show you the way to the plaster room, OK?
0:38:12 > 0:38:13Thank you.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19James will need a splint to prevent further damage to his broken bone
0:38:19 > 0:38:20until he can see a specialist.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25My mum was, like, going to come up last night to make me go to A&E
0:38:25 > 0:38:27and I was like, "No, I'm not going to go tonight."
0:38:27 > 0:38:29I was already at the pub and I'd already had a few beers
0:38:29 > 0:38:32and she was like, "James, I'm coming up to see you."
0:38:32 > 0:38:34And I was like, "No. Don't you dare."
0:38:34 > 0:38:36She didn't come up in at the end, thank God,
0:38:36 > 0:38:38but I promised her today I'd come to A&E.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40- This is just a temporary one until tomorrow.- Yep.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43- Will it be, like, a full cast on my whole arm?- Not today, it won't be.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45- It'll be half of one.- Tomorrow, will it be on my whole arm?
0:38:45 > 0:38:48Have no idea. Obviously, the doctors will review and decide.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53James will receive follow-up care as an outpatient.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55Going to take it a little bit easier than I would do normally,
0:38:55 > 0:38:57still hoping to have a good time.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00Minor injuries bed 12 is prepped, ready for the next patient.
0:39:08 > 0:39:12- PHONE RINGS - Good morning.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17In Queens Hospital, Romford, on maternity bed six,
0:39:17 > 0:39:1949-year-old Shola and husband Ike
0:39:19 > 0:39:25have become parents for the first time...with triplets.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28The first boy is Chilo.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32The full name is Chilotam. It means "God remembered me".
0:39:33 > 0:39:36The second boy is Chibuikem.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38It means "God is my strength".
0:39:38 > 0:39:42So we call him Chibu.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44And then the third one, who is the girl,
0:39:44 > 0:39:48is Chinaza or Chinazae.
0:39:48 > 0:39:50It means, "God answers prayers".
0:39:52 > 0:39:57It's been 48 hours since the babies were delivered prematurely.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00Shola's recovering well from her Caesarean.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06When they come home with me and then wake up in the morning,
0:40:06 > 0:40:08we bath them, the routine starts running in,
0:40:08 > 0:40:11then it dawns on me, we're a family of five now.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14We were two, and we're a family of five now.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17Shola's leaving maternity bed six to visit her babies,
0:40:17 > 0:40:20who were taken straight to the neonatal intensive care unit.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24It provides expert care around the clock
0:40:24 > 0:40:28for babies as young as 27 weeks old.
0:40:28 > 0:40:32Welcome to Queen's Hospital, where we have triplets.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36Sister Nathaniel is the ward manager.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40Maternity do a lot of deliveries, so most of the times,
0:40:40 > 0:40:43as you can see, we're forever full.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45- Triplet one.- Ooh.
0:40:45 > 0:40:47- Doing very well.- Hello, Chilo.
0:40:47 > 0:40:49Self-ventilating in air.
0:40:49 > 0:40:54And the weight today is 1.630.
0:40:54 > 0:40:56Oh, that's good.
0:40:56 > 0:40:58Yeah, Mummy's here. You all right?
0:40:58 > 0:41:01The triplets were delivered at 33 weeks.
0:41:01 > 0:41:05The smallest weighed just 2 lbs 4oz.
0:41:05 > 0:41:09- The smallest of the three. - Chibu, how are you?
0:41:09 > 0:41:10Weighs just over a kilo.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12Hello.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16He's getting better. My son's going to be bigger, don't worry.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19Hello, Chibu. You all right?
0:41:19 > 0:41:24As soon as he came in, required a bit of oxygen and some CPAP.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27Later on, it was retaining carbon dioxide,
0:41:27 > 0:41:29so we just intubated for 12 hours
0:41:29 > 0:41:33and today is the first day he's breathing by himself.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38- The girl.- Hello, Chinaza.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41That's the princess, the pretty princess.
0:41:41 > 0:41:42- She's sleeping.- Yeah.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44Oh-oh.
0:41:44 > 0:41:48She's got lovely, nice, smooth skin, this one. I keep looking at her.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50Chinaza.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52Say hello.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55Are you really sleeping or pretending?
0:41:55 > 0:42:00You may find that triplet two may go before triplet one or vice versa,
0:42:00 > 0:42:04although we try our utmost best to send them all together.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06But don't be surprised if we say,
0:42:06 > 0:42:08"Oh, triplet one is ready. Off you go."
0:42:10 > 0:42:13Shola and Ike are taking the opportunity
0:42:13 > 0:42:15to bond with their babies.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18It will be a few weeks before they can take them home.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28Our hospital beds have given us intimate access
0:42:28 > 0:42:29to the work of the NHS.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34James made his ten o'clock appointment
0:42:34 > 0:42:35and had surgery on his hand.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38He's not allowed to play rugby until after Christmas.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44Following his car accident, Stuart made it back home to York,
0:42:44 > 0:42:46much to the relief of his wife.
0:42:50 > 0:42:52And a month after being born,
0:42:52 > 0:42:54all three triplets are at home with Shola and Ike.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01The beds are now back on their wards,
0:43:01 > 0:43:03ready and waiting for their next round of patients.