Episode 4 Secret Life of the Hospital Bed

Hospital beds in the NHS have never been under more pressure...

It's just unrelenting at the moment.

..with more patients to care for than ever before,

and only 150,000 beds to go round.

It is a fast-paced job. It's a non-stopping conveyor belt.

In this series,

we use special cameras on beds in four very different hospitals...

Comfy bed.

..to see the world through the beds' eyes.

Left at the lights.

SHE SOBS ..as they share the most challenging...

-SHE SIGHS

-Oh, it's coming again.

Don't get upset. We'll look after you, OK?

Are you OK, pet?

..most intimate...

That's good.

..and most rewarding moments of our lives.

So, so happy.

Coming up...

In Newcastle, on Resus Bed 2, there are fears 64-year-old Howard

may have a brain haemorrhage.

He hit his head on the way down.

Definite concerns are any bleed to the brain or inside the skull.

Whee!

On Paediatric Bed 27,

two-year-old Mason has a potentially dangerous skin infection.

Hey, little mister. Can I come and have a little look at your face?

Ah, well done.

And in Romford, in Maternity Bed 5,

29-year-old Hayley tried to laugh her way through the pain.

She's got this theory about laughter is the best medicine,

which is definitely working for her.

SHE LAUGHS

Your bed's like an extra member of staff, almost.

This is The Secret Life Of The Hospital Bed.

SIREN WAILS

The Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle upon Tyne.

-Hi, it's Sally.

-We've had a pre-alert, an 11-year-old male.

The A&E department here

has a special area for patients with life-threatening

illnesses or injuries.

It's called Resus.

Hello, there. Hello?

This is Resus Bed 2 waiting for its next patient.

64-year-old painter and decorator Howard

has fallen from a ladder, hitting his head on a kitchen unit.

-We've done the bloods.

-Fine.

He's got morphine and bits and bobs prescribed for him.

I'll do a thorough exam and I'll let you know.

Good man. Thank you very much.

Registrar Dr Vorges has been working in A&E for 11 years.

-Is it OK if I just put you back down?

-Howard?

-Where does that hurt?

-Back.

On the back. Sorry for that.

Howard has had several brain aneurysms in the past.

These are bulges in the blood vessel walls which can burst.

So do you remember the whole thing?

I was painting above a kitchen unit

and I was on steps. And I started leaning over...

-And I came up suddenly and...

-You slipped.

I banged my head and fell on the floor.

When did you lose consciousness?

Was it immediately after the fall or later?

I slipped and fell and banged my head and hit the floor,

so from banging my head on the floor, that was it.

As he's hit his head,

Howard is at high risk of having a bleed on the brain.

His only daughter, Jen, rushed him to hospital.

Does it feel big? Oh, yeah! Yeah, that's quite big.

-It's your head you're worried about, really, isn't it?

-Yeah.

I've had four major strokes.

-Aneurysm...

-Three aneurysms.

Epilepsy.

Some people can have a seizure in the first few weeks after

a stroke, and a small number, like Howard, go on to develop epilepsy.

When he had his first fit, it was horrible. We didn't...

None of us had any experience of seeing a fit,

so we didn't know it was a fit.

So we just thought, what's happening to him?

He was thrashing about and pouring with blood out of his mouth,

because he'd bit his tongue.

Student nurse Belle gets Howard ready for his brain scan.

He banged his head today, so...

He's a little bit worried about it, but we're going to get a scan.

I worked in this hospital, painting this hospital,

for two or three year.

-Oh, did you? That's lovely!

-HOWARD CHUCKLES

I'll put this on you...

This is called the Microson machine.

It's like a video scan, just to have a look in your tummy.

Just to see there isn't anything wrong.

What previous tummy surgeries have you had?

Have you had any tummy surgeries?

-I had cancer.

-You had cancer for...?

-Bowel cancer.

-Bowel cancer.

The operation to remove cancer from Howard's bowel three years ago

was successful.

So why I'm doing this scan...is to see if there's any...blood in...

-the tummy.

-Oh.

Last year, he also broke three ribs after a fall at work.

I think when he broke his ribs,

that was the thing that bothered him the most.

He was so immobile, couldn't do anything.

And, like, for his age, he's...

He's 64 and all he's had wrong with him...he's so active.

Like, he looks after my kids every weekend,

a four-year-old and a one-year-old, running him ragged.

The ultrasound shows no bleeding in Howard's stomach.

Bed 2 takes him for a brain scan.

We'll return later to find out if he has had a bleed on the brain.

The Great North Children's Hospital in Newcastle

is the only dedicated paediatric centre in the UK

to have been rated as outstanding by the Care Quality Commission.

Hello, Paeds A&E?

Their paediatric A&E department has nine beds,

seeing almost 500 patients a week.

These beds are permanently on call to deal with emergencies,

from split heads, to allergies, to broken bones.

Fractured...

Paediatric Bed 27 is prepped and ready for its next patient.

Working alongside the beds today are Nurse Practitioner Aynsley...

They can go across to the pod.

..and Nurse Carmichael.

It's a very scary environment for a child to come in

and if you want them to be compliant and also be happy and not scared,

the best way is to try and make them as comfortable as possible.

It's just before lunchtime.

Bed 27 is about to meet two-year-old Mason and his mum Jessica.

Whee!

Wow! Where's that toy that we bought?

Mason was admitted to hospital recently with facial cellulitis.

There are signs it's come back.

Let's have a little look at your face, sweetheart.

-It's a toy?

-What? Yeah.

Cellulitis is a potentially dangerous infection

of the deeper layers of the skin.

I've just got a little pen,

so I'm just going to draw some little pointers

to where it is at the minute.

Mason, sweetheart, do you think you can sit still?

I'm going to draw on your face!

All the way back here.

Staff Nurse Carmichael draws a line around the affected area.

I don't think it really goes past your nose, then, does it?

Symptoms of cellulitis include red, hot and swollen skin.

If the redness crosses the line,

it's a sign the infection is spreading.

Obviously, if you notice it getting any bigger, just let us know.

But I will keep checking on him, obviously, and that's just...

Cellulitis can spread quickly and, if untreated,

can be life-threatening.

If Mason's cellulitis is severe,

he'll be given antibiotics intravenously.

Right, Mason, can I put some magic cream on your hands?

Then you can keep playing, can't you?

-Ooh!

-Ooh!

This cream will numb Mason's hand in preparation.

I'll put this big sticker on your hand.

MASON WHIMPERS

Oh, no, it's not sore, is it?

-Does it look a bit funny?

-It hurt.

-It hurts?

It's just a bit cold, sweetheart.

I will pop this round, we'll hide it, shall we?

We'll hide it.

Approximately 30% of all patients

who are treated for facial cellulitis see the infection return.

The first time he had it, he had quite, like,

quite a build-up, where his eye was all red.

And then last night, he was fine, there was no build-up,

and that just happened when he woke up.

The right side of his face swelled up and

he couldn't open his eye in the morning.

There we go. That's it. Well done.

Say bye.

-Bye!

-Good boy.

Nurse Practitioner Aynsley comes to examine Mason.

-Hello!

-Hiya.

Hey, little mister! Can I come and have a little look at your face?

-Can we have a little look. Can you lift your head up for me?

-Do that.

Oh, well done!

What a good boy. Right, I'm quick to have a little feel of your neck, while you're like that.

HE BELCHES

Oh! That was a good one!

I'll go and speak to the paediatric team,

let them know it's quite swollen and red at the moment.

I'll ask them to come and have a little look.

Depending on the blood results,

they may think that he's OK just to start oral antibiotics

and hopefully we've caught it early enough.

Untreated cellulitis can also lead to blood poisoning.

We'll let you finish your milk in peace!

As I say, I'll go and speak to the team,

then I'll come back and let you know what's happening.

-OK.

-OK? See you soon! Do I get a wave?

-Say bye.

-Half a wave.

LAUGHTER

-Cool.

-Thank you.

HE WHINES

Oh!

Ooh...

SHE LAUGHS

It can be quite severe, so it can spread,

it can spread to the eye area,

it could spread into the lymph glands,

and it can particularly become quite serious quite quickly.

Mason will get a blood test which will determine the severity

of the infection that he's got at present

and we will determine from there

whether he needs oral antibiotics

or intravenous antibiotics.

-Hi! Is your name Mason?

-Hi, Mason, we're back!

Sister Jackson arrives to help take Mason's blood.

Hello!

Aww, it's a sad face now.

We're going to take them off.

-Shall we take your boxing gloves off?

-Shall we?

The anaesthetic cream on his hands should stop the needles

causing any pain.

Will you just kind of give him a little bit of support, Mum,

and then we'll get this done as quick as we can?

You can read a book if you want, with Mummy.

-Look, look at Mummy.

-MASON CRIES

I know, look at Mummy.

The bloods were very stressful.

At that age range, they can be quite squirmy.

Obviously they're scared, they don't know what's happening,

so sometimes it can be a little bit tricky.

Ideally, sometimes they're cuddled into Mum, helps a great deal,

but in the situation he actually sat quite still on the bed,

so that was good, a big bonus for us.

Look at Mummy, baby.

-Look at these teddy bears!

-Well done, Mum.

I was just going to ask.

-Ooh!

-Oh, don't move that one.

-Shall we move you a little bit?

-There you go.

-Come here.

We'll be with Mason and mum Jessica when they find out how severe

the infection is.

Queen's Hospital in Romford has one of the largest maternity units

in the country.

The beds here see over 9,000 births a year.

Each one can take as little as two hours or more than three days.

Maternity Bed 7 is with 29-year-old Hayley.

She's determined to give birth naturally after having an

emergency Caesarean with her first child.

When is she coming out?

She'll come. She will.

-She has to!

-It doesn't feel like she's coming out.

She will be, trust me on that. Yeah, she is.

She isn't coming out right this moment, but...she will. OK?

Midwife Marne is with Hayley, who's been in labour for an hour.

Hayley has had one baby before.

That baby was delivered by Caesarean section ten years ago.

So today she is aiming to have a vaginal delivery. That's her plan.

I never wanted a Caesarean last time. I had no choice.

But then I was kind of glad because he was 10lbs 4oz, so...

Pushing that out, I imagine would be a bit of a...

A lot worse than what you are now!

She's really positive and focused for this today.

She seems to have a really good attitude.

She's been given the painkiller pethidine and is using gas and air

to get her through.

I feel like a Picasso painting. I feel like my mouth's going...

It's not, I promise!

I will tell you if your mouth starts to do that!

Because Hayley's first child was a Caesarean,

she faces extra risks with a natural birth.

'There's always a risk of scar rupture.'

-I'm not doing well.

-You are!

-You are!

'You're observing for signs of scar rupture all the time,

'and Mum's aware of that as well.'

She will tell us if she feels any tenderness or pain or

anything like that.

-Contraction!

-OK. Breathe.

You're all right, it's all right.

SHE MOANS LOUDLY

I know you're feeling that pressure. Baby's head is very low, OK?

-I can't do this.

-You can.

-You can.

-I can't. I really can't do this.

My scar hurts...

Do you feel like there's a very strong pressure?

HAYLEY MOANS

If Hayley's Caesarean scar ruptures, her baby's life could be in danger.

It's my scar, my scar.

Bear with me, right?

We'll rejoin Hayley later

as she finds out whether she'll be able to give birth naturally.

I can't cope any more. I really, really can't.

In Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary,

it's been a busy shift on the A&E ward.

One of their most critical patients, Howard,

arrived on Resus Bed 2 half an hour ago, after falling from a ladder.

Emergency department consultant Dr Voorhees is taking him for

a CT scan to check for internal bleeding in the brain and abdomen.

He's getting scanned almost everything.

So that contains the head, chest and abdomen.

He hit his head on the way down, and also on the lower back.

He does have a large swelling on the back part of his head, so the

definite concerns are any bleed to the brain or inside the skull.

-So we are concerned about the back of the head?

-Back of the head.

-Pedicle lumbar junction.

-Right, MRI and the...

Howard has been in hospital before with brain aneurysms.

His previous history, so when you have an aneurysm,

so that's the blood vessel is weak,

that can increase the chance of having a second bleed in the brain.

Resus Bed 2 takes Howard back to his bay.

Howard has previously survived cancer and several strokes.

-Has he had any heart problems?

-No.

-About the only thing he hasn't had.

-Any kidney problems?

He's been unlucky, but he's been lucky as well because, well,

if he hadn't had the fits,

they wouldn't have found the aneurysms in his head.

And if he hadn't have had the strokes,

which resulted in him having the cholesterol test, they

wouldn't have found his blood count was low, which found the cancer.

And the doctor said to him, "If you hadn't had the..."

If they hadn't have found the cancer when they did,

it would have been too late, they wouldn't have been able to treat it.

-This is me most worrying bit.

-Hitting his head.

-Me head.

Whenever he hits his head, that's the big worry,

with him having the aneurysms.

Got two that were big enough to put a coil in, which is, like,

-to stop them bursting, I suppose.

-I suppose.

But then one of them was too small to fit the coil in,

so one of them's just free, sitting there.

Dr Voorhees is back with an update.

We have scanned your chest, tummy and pelvis, and the head.

They will officially report it in, er, probably one hour's time.

In the meantime, I will probably want to do some X-rays

because it's quite sore in here, isn't it?

-Yeah, that's where I banged it.

-All right, fine.

I need to get some X-rays of that hand, OK?

We'll be back with Resus Bed 2 and Howard

as he finds out the results of these vital tests.

Every week at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital,

doctors perform life-saving procedures.

You have pain, sir?

You're doing very well.

These treatments happen on their Day Surgery unit.

There are more than 80 beds here, which look after patients before...

-Have you had any heart attacks in the past?

-No.

..during...

Take a deep breath in for me, sir, and hold it.

..and after their operation.

Thank you ever so much, chick.

You're a star.

Day Surgery Bed 8 is ready for its first patient.

Do you want to just sit on the bed?

Today, 75-year-old Shirley is having a stent inserted

into a blocked artery.

I'm just going to pop your allergy wristband on, Shirley.

Without this intervention, she's at risk of having a heart attack.

All right, just scan your wristband.

Shirley became widowed when her children were young.

She's never remarried.

Her support today is her son's partner, Jenny.

I started going out with Shirley's son, Adrian, about 11 years ago,

so I've known Shirley 11 years.

-We get on really well, don't we?

-We do.

-We just call each other sisters, don't we?

-We do.

One time, Shirley came with us to Amsterdam

to the Tulip Festival, which was absolutely gorgeous, wasn't it?

We were a little bit surprised when we were walking down one of the

streets of the evening,

what's in the windows down the streets.

It was a bit of a shock.

Twilight. Twilight area.

Couldn't understand why all these women were sitting in the window

with the light behind them with no clothes on!

Shirley is one of 75,000 people who have a stent fitted each year.

She had a heart attack ten years ago. This will be her third stent.

Well, I had two the first time,

and the second time I had to have a repair - one of them wasn't working properly.

Because I got furring-up of the arteries...

Mm. ..which is making me very breathless

and I've been having some dizzy turns and that, you know?

Cardiologist Dr Khan prepares Shirley for the procedure.

So, Shirley, how have you been over the last few weeks, then?

The medication's been helpful?

-Er, well, I had an angina attack yesterday.

-Oh, yeah.

That was when I got my arms up, putting my washing on the line.

-And then I took the spray.

-All the reason to do the procedure.

-Yeah.

There are serious risks associated with this operation.

I hope you understand,

the little complications which can anchor the major ones.

-Yes.

-So there's a 1-in-200 risk of having a stroke or a heart attack

-in the procedure or, in extreme case scenario they can be - God forbid - death, as well.

-Yes.

These complications can occur. We try our best that they don't happen.

If they do happen, God forbid, I'll try my level best to manage it, as well.

So I hope everything goes fine.

Yes, OK. Thank you very much, doctor. Thank you.

And of course I'm more at risk now because I'm older

and my blood's thinner now than it was before.

So there's just that risk, but what can you do?

-Got to have it done.

-The thing is...

-you want your quality of life back and this is the way that you can get it.

-Yeah.

It's a cup of tea I'm looking forward to!

And something to eat - I've had nothing to eat since six o'clock.

Day Surgery Bed 8 takes Shirley for her life-saving procedure.

-I'll see you...

-OK, love.

-See you in a bit.

Waited a long time, but it'll soon be over.

Coming up on The Secret Life Of The Hospital Bed...

In Newcastle, on Paediatric Bed 27,

the dangerous infection on Mason's face starts to spread.

It hurts, doesn't it?

In Birmingham, on Day Surgery Bed 8,

75-year-old Shirley has a life-saving heart op.

Feel better? Blood pressure going down, I think, because we gave you lots of sedation.

I'm just giving you some medication to improve that.

And in Romford, on Maternity Bed 5,

29-year-old Hayley tries to push through the pain.

She's not letting go of that for anything.

I had to rearrange the hand.

Back in Newcastle, at the Great North Children's Hospital,

Bed 27 is empty.

Two-year-old Mason prefers the comfort of mum Jessica's knee.

She's concerned he's had a relapse of facial cellulitis,

a potentially life-threatening condition.

Do you think he could have facial cellulitis or...?

Yeah, quite possibly, yeah.

I mean, that's probably what it is, it's just a case of,

erm, ensuring that, you know, we're safe enough just to have the

oral antibiotics rather than going down the route of the

IV antibiotics like before.

You all right? What's that?

Without antibiotics, cellulitis can lead to serious complications

such as septicaemia or kidney damage.

Does that hurt? Don't look at it.

Mason may need to be admitted overnight for observations.

Dr Modneau has come to assess Mason.

Sorry, I was just going to say he could go for a wander,

-I think he's getting a bit bored in here.

-Ah!

Going to let the doctor come and see your face,

then you can go for your walk?

He's just like, "Nah, I'm outta here!"

-Sorry.

-Two minutes.

MASON CRIES

Mason's been with Paediatric Bed 27 in A&E for just over two hours.

Earlier, a line was drawn around the perimeter of the cellulitis

to monitor if the infection is spreading.

No, but is it contagious or not?

Usually, cellulitis is not infectious unless it's

something else. Erm, there are no signs that he has the bug elsewhere.

It looks like it's sort of around the face.

Erm, so, quite likely it's just in his face.

It's on the other side this time,

isn't it, and his left side of the face is actually starting to...

become red as well. Is that something new or...?

-That's... That was all today.

-That was all today.

Everything that you're saying now has all just started. Thank you.

Dr Modneau's examination confirms Mason's infection is getting worse.

-Are you hiding?

-No!

I can still see you.

Unfortunately, it's started to spread a bit more,

he's got a little bit more redness,

and his left eye is now starting to become a bit more puffy.

He, erm, is otherwise still quite well in himself, but the doctors are

concerned regarding the swelling, so he's going to be admitted.

Right, Mum, shall we take him down the bottom there?

Mason and mum Jessica head to the assessment unit

for further monitoring.

Paediatric Bed 27 is cleaned up, ready for the next patient.

Next door, in the A&E department of

Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary,

Resus Bed 2 is with 64-year-old decorator Howard.

Right, your address is...?

He's fallen off a ladder at work and banged his head on a work surface.

Doctors are concerned he may have a bleed on the brain

and multiple broken bones.

I think you'd get more than that.

I've been paying National Insurance 30, 40 year, 50 year.

I think you get more than your money's worth.

He's already had a CT scan to check if he has brain damage.

Hiya, mate, just going through for some X-rays, all right?

-Just in that room behind me.

-Ta-rah.

-Bye. Have fun.

Going to bring this round,

I need to pop this in behind your back, all right?

Can you lean forward a little bit for me? That's the one.

Due to Howard's serious injuries,

the X-ray of his chest and back are carried out on Resus Bed 2.

I think this'll be the last one where the doctor's going to

have a look and see what they think, you know.

I've been through that much, and, just get up and do it again.

Daughter Jen is with Howard.

Everything he's had wrong with him,

he's never, ever been down about it, he's never been bitter.

I've seen him cry once, when the first thing happened,

when he had his strokes, because he was apologising, saying sorry,

that he felt like he'd let we down.

And obviously we said that he hadn't.

But since then, he's just got... He's just been so strong.

An hour after being admitted,

the results are back from Howard's CT scan.

It's OK, isn't it?

Yeah, looks all right, actually. They're certain findings...

-No problem, thank you.

-Thank you.

He's just been, know what I mean, and, er, done the full scans

and that, you know, said that everything was all right.

So, like, with the brain.

-So it looks as though I'm going to be all right.

-Again.

Doctor Voorhees has news.

So, looks like, erm, there is a fracture on the back.

You have got a rib fracture on the left side.

So that's the reason you're getting admitted to the hospital

for pain management.

So he's got a fracture on the back?

On the back, and then he has got a fracture on the ribs as well. OK?

So he's just being admitted...

-For pain management.

-Is his elbow OK?

-Yeah.

-So how long will he be in for, do you know?

-Maybe two or three days.

-OK?

-That's fine, thank you very much.

-Thank you.

With a broken vertebrae and ribs,

Howard faces a longer stay in hospital to recover.

It's a shame, you know,

but may as well stay in and get it looked after properly.

We'll just wrap some bubble wrap round you.

You'll be fine.

Resus Bed 2 will stay with him

until a bed on the ward becomes available.

-Shorts, T-shirt.

-Shorts, T-shirt.

-Socks.

-Huh?

-Got your slippers?

At Queen's Hospital in Romford,

Maternity Bed 7 is with 29-year-old Hayley.

She's been in labour for five hours.

There's still no baby!

Midwife Marne was concerned Hayley's Caesarean scar

from her first birth was tearing.

Oh, it's got to be almost done now.

She's now in the final stages of labour,

and the danger has subsided.

If only it was that easy. Come on.

I have been where you are.

Never would I call this easy.

-She's not letting go, is she? At all.

-I had to rearrange the hand.

If you break his hand, he's won't be able to change the nappies.

Can I have the gas and air then?

-Remember that.

-HAYLEY PANTS

The baby's head is just sitting there now.

-Oh, please, get her out of me.

-She's coming.

-I can't.

-You can.

-Please.

-It's all right.

-Doing well.

-HAYLEY MOANS

She's only got one way out now.

I want this baby out.

I know. I know.

When they're coming up ready to deliver,

a lot of women will feel that they can't do it.

Whereas they thought before, "I'm coping quite well,"

all of a sudden now she's feeling like,

"I'm not able to do it,"

and it's classic for someone to just say,

"Oh, please, just pull the baby out. Take it away."

The baby's head is just here.

-HAYLEY MOANS

-You can tell her now, Aaron.

-And again.

-It's right there.

-Come on. Push.

Midwife Yasmin is also helping to deliver Hayley's baby.

You're doing this. Nice deep breaths.

You're going to blow the baby out. Working together now, yeah?

HAYLEY SCREAMS

BABY CRIES

We have a baby.

Hello, cutie pie. Welcome to the world.

Hayley and Aaron's daughter is born naturally,

just as they wanted.

She is gorgeous.

-Look at you!

-Beautiful!

They've already chosen a name - Ella-Louise.

Well done, Hayley.

The average baby girl weighs around 7lb, 4oz.

Ella-Louise is a healthy 9lb and 5oz.

-Aw. That's so cute.

-You can keep her for a little while.

She's a beauty. Is that a hand-knitted hat?

I think your sister done this one.

Yeah, it's gorgeous. What a pretty little thing.

Oh, hello.

-It was you, was it?

-BABY CRIES, LAUGHTER

It's nearly an hour since Ella-Louise was born...

Is it painful?

..but Hayley's now suffering serious complications.

Is it stinging or is it your tummy? Are you feeling it contract?

She still hasn't delivered her placenta.

Just give it one more go, sweetheart.

If any part of the placenta remains in the womb,

there's a risk of haemorrhaging.

Just keep taking the gas.

Hayley, see if you can just give us a push.

-Hayley...

-Yeah?

-..push down like you did with baby.

Push down, yeah? Go on. You can do it.

And you can't feel it at all?

If it's not delivered soon,

the placenta will have to be removed by a surgeon

under general anaesthetic.

See if you can give me one big push.

OK. All right.

We've waited an hour for the placenta to come,

but cos it's not advancing now,

we're going to take her into theatre and we're going to try

to manually remove her placenta.

Hi, Gladys. It's Nadia from Labour Ward.

Just to be on the safer side, we don't want to keep it any longer.

Hayley is rushed to theatre on Bed 7.

We'll rejoin her to find out if doctors manage to prevent

a serious haemorrhage.

Back in Birmingham,

Day Surgery Bed 8 is taking 75-year-old Shirley to theatre

to have a stent inserted into an artery.

Without this procedure, she could have a heart attack.

Just keep this blanket.

A cardiologist is carrying out Shirley's procedure.

So, this lady, ongoing angina. She was investigated

by enterography a few weeks ago.

It showed severe proximal RCA lesion

which we're going to stent today.

A stent is a wire mesh tube that acts like a scaffold

to help keep weak or narrow arteries open.

This allows the blood to flow freely.

We'll get anaesthetic in your hand. Sharp scratch, sharp scratch.

You feel anything - any pressure - just let me know.

Shirley will be awake throughout the procedure.

You seem more relaxed now.

Wait until we see the pressure.

She's been on the operating table for 50 minutes

when there's a complication.

-It's still pretty low.

-Yeah, can we have 600...

Her blood pressure has dropped suddenly.

600 micrograms.

You feel better?

Blood pressure went down, the heart slowed down - I think because

we gave you lots of sedation.

We're just giving you some medication to improve that.

With Shirley's blood pressure now under control, the procedure can continue.

Deep breath and hold it there. Keep holding your breath as long as you can.

You're doing great.

You may feel some chest tightness while we inflate the balloon.

Now we're going to put the stent in it.

Making good progress - everything going absolutely fine.

After an hour and 15 minutes in theatre,

the stent is in place.

It was a relatively straightforward PCI procedure

to the right artery with one stent going in there.

That's it. That'll do. Relax there. I'll sit you up now.

Day Surgery Bed 8 takes Shirley back to the ward.

Hello!

Shirley's son's partner, Jenny, is waiting.

-How'd you go? Was it all right?

-Yeah.

-Was it?

-Yeah.

Was it better this time?

-It was a bit better, but still traumatic.

-Was it?

-Yeah.

-All over.

-Yeah, it's over now.

-Want a drink now.

-Yeah. Some water.

I'm so relieved it's all over.

I'm sure she's relieved, as well.

It's been a big build-up but it's all done and hopefully she'll be much better.

It's nothing for me to be here because, you know, I'd hate it if she'd been on her own.

-Shirley, I'm just going to transfer you to the bed now.

-OK.

Shirley leaves the Day Surgery unit to recover on a ward.

You all right now?

Yes, I'm fine now.

-Would you like a cup of tea?

-Yes, please.

Pure nectar!

Bed 8 moves on to its next patient.

In Romford, at the Queen's Hospital,

Bed 7 and midwife Yasmin are taking 29-year-old Hayley into theatre.

She's given birth to a healthy baby girl,

but she's now suffering serious complications.

-SHE MOANS

-Are you OK?

-Still in a lot of pain?

-Sorry.

-That's all right, darling.

That's fine. You're trying, at least.

Normally, the placenta is delivered within 60 minutes,

but two hours after giving birth,

Hayley's placenta is still attached.

It needs to be surgically removed.

If it's not, Hayley could haemorrhage.

There's a risk of increased bleeding.

She could have a haemorrhage.

Also can lead to infection and things like that.

Right.

Are you more comfortable at all? There is one more pillow.

-How about that?

-HAYLEY MOANS

Hayley is in severe pain and opts to be put under general anaesthetic.

Um...

Just as the procedure is about to start, nature intervenes.

-Fell out.

-Oh, did it?

With all the movement

and trying to get all the general anaesthetic sorted,

by the time we actually got it all sorted,

the placenta literally just delivered.

Yeah. Which happens.

Which also happens sometimes as well.

Maternity Bed 7 takes Hayley back to be reunited with her family.

Her observations are completely stable now.

It's just for the general anaesthesia

to start wearing off a little bit and she'll feel fine.

24 hours later, and Hayley's son, Jamie, and Aaron's daughter Macy

are meeting their new sister.

Very sweet.

Tired, but good.

It was definitely surreal

and probably not one that I would repeat again.

Yeah, just can't wait to go home now.

-You don't want no more, do you? No.

-SHE LAUGHS

And if another one does come and it's a boy,

then the odds will be even.

They will be, but there's no more coming.

-We won't fit in the car.

-No.

Our hospital beds have given us intimate access

to the work of the NHS.

Howard was kept in hospital for a week with his broken ribs

and vertebrae.

He's already back painting and decorating.

Young Mason had 24 hours of intravenous antibiotics.

The swelling on his face has now cleared.

It took Shirley nearly two weeks to recover from her stent operation.

She now has a new lease of life.

And baby Ella-Louise is now home with parents Hayley and Aaron.

The beds are now back on their wards,

ready and waiting for their next round of patients.