Episode 4 Secret Life of the Hospital Bed

SIREN WAILS

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 nonstop conveyor belt.

In this series, we use special cameras on beds

in four very different hospitals...

Ah, comfy bed.

..to see the world through the bed's eyes...

Left at the lights!

..as they share the most challenging...

Oh, it's coming again.

Ohhh...

You're a bit upset. And we'll look after you, OK?

-Are you OK, pet?

-..most intimate...

..and most rewarding moments of our lives.

So, so happy.

Coming up...

in Barnsley on A&E Bed 12,

64-year-old Charles is in severe pain,

but worrying about his wife.

It's a bit of a problem, cos I'm my wife's carer.

She is disabled.

So being in here is a problem to me.

On Resus Bed 2, 16-year-old Lewis fears for his footballing future.

It just felt like my arm snapped.

And in Leeds, on Paediatric Bed 3,

six-year-old Reuben faces surgery once again.

Just reminds me of when he had his liver transplant

to put him to sleep.

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

This is The Secret Life Of The Hospital Bed.

Barnsley Hospital, South Yorkshire.

Did that one go to the children's assessment unit?

OK. OK, brilliant. Thank you.

There are 40 mobile beds in the A&E department.

Ready, steady, slide.

These beds never rest, seeing over 200 patients a day,

-from potentially deadly strokes...

-I just can't imagine...

..what's happened.

..to life-changing injuries.

Can you feel me touching your little fingers?

-That hurt.

-Yes!

Right.

Bed 12 is about to meet its next patient.

Grab you a gown.

64-year-old grandfather of three Charles

has been rushed in with severe pain in his abdomen.

Lead consultant Dr Griffiths is assessing Charles.

What's been happening?

If I inhale too quick, cough...

-..very painful.

-Right. And any other health care problems

that you suffer with?

Diabetes.

-Right.

-High blood pressure.

You name it, I've got it.

The pain is in here.

If you can imagine putting your hand into a hot frying pan...

..that's more or less what it's like.

Charles is in hospital alone,

but he's worried about his wife of 28 years, Wendy.

It's a bit of a problem because I'm my wife's carer.

She is disabled.

So being in here is a problem to me.

Have you had any operations on your tummy before?

Er...only when I was a child.

-Appendix.

-Right.

Dr Griffiths is concerned Charles may have a potentially

life-threatening bowel blockage.

Might have a condition known as bowel obstruction and sometimes

when that happens, you can get peritonitis,

which is where you get a small hole in the bowel,

it perforates and that needs an urgent operation.

So your tummy looks a bit swollen.

Is it normally swollen?

I am a human camel.

Peritonitis is potentially fatal

because you can easily develop abdominal sepsis, which is really

difficult to treat because it's within the abdomen.

Is it sore when I press up here, where you've been getting the pain?

Sepsis can develop into multi-organ failure,

so we need to get some X-rays to rule that out and speak to the

surgical team and get them to come and have a look at him.

If the X-ray shows a serious bowel obstruction,

Charles may need an operation.

Worst case scenario, if there is anything

-that needs to be chopped out...

-Yeah?

..how long's it going to take?

It can be quite a big operation

having your tummy cut open and things removed.

So you're looking at quite a lengthy sort of post-op stay

to recover from the surgery.

It's only...my wife, obviously.

Yeah, no, I understand.

-I mean, eventually I'll be able to phone.

-Yeah, absolutely.

-Sort her out, you know.

-Yeah.

Let me, er, let me just get some things organised,

Mr Hewitt, all right? I'll be right back.

-Charles?

-It is indeed.

-Right, take you for an X-ray.

-Yeah.

-We're on this ward.

-Right...

A&E Bed 12 takes Charles to X-ray.

He's been away from his disabled wife Wendy

for nearly three hours now.

I don't mind staying in and being operated on, whatever.

But he did say it's a long post-op period, you know.

Which has got me...

I'm not that bothered about...

..Wendy not being looked after, because I know she will be.

I'm just bothered that it's not ME that's looking after her.

Later, we'll find out if Charles does have

a life-threatening bowel obstruction and whether he'll need an operation.

Leeds Children's Hospital.

Don't tell them I said this, but I said you're my favourite nurse.

The busy day surgery unit here has 26 beds,

treating over 500 children a month.

Ow...

These beds work under stressful conditions.

They're with children and parents before...

Do you want Mum to do it? Do you want Mum...?

..and after surgery.

Can you see your comfy bed?

Yeah, beds are the main thing in a hospital,

cos if you've not got a bed, you cannot have the operation.

Ah, sweetheart. I love you.

Paediatric Bed 3 is ready and waiting for its next patient.

Four-year-old Reuben is here with parents Beth and Mark.

-There you go...

-Oh, wow!

-Look at that!

-A special bed. Eh?

Whoa, there you go!

REUBEN CHATTERS

Right, is that you all nice and comfy?

Caring for him today is Sister Ferguson.

So why are you here today, Reuben?

What have you come to see us for?

-You're doing what?

-Banged my teeth.

-Teeth?

-You banged your teeth, didn't you?

-You banged your teeth?

Reuben has come in for extensive dental surgery.

As well as damaging his front tooth,

Reuben has decay and staining caused by liver disease.

They're taking that top tooth out

and they may take some out at the back

and they are capping some cos of his medication.

They've all got holes in.

And then they're putting a white coating over his teeth cos people at

school have started to notice now that his teeth are yellow-stained.

Reuben is used to spending time in hospital.

So what have you been here for before?

Cos I know you've done all this before.

-What did you have?

-What do we say?

People don't push you in your belly because you've had...

A liver transplant.

Ahh.

-A liver transplant.

-Look at that!

Wow!

How long was we in hospital?

-For ten...

-Ten years?

For six months, weren't we?

Six months? A very long time.

Every year, around 100 children in the UK

have life-saving liver transplants.

The reason for Reuben's was particularly rare.

The surgeons had said it's biliary agenesis,

and it happens to one baby every four years in Great Britain.

Rare, rare Reuben, aren't ya?

Eh?

Reuben will need medication for the rest of his life,

but it doesn't hold him back.

What are you doing to poor Mickey?

Oh, that's not nice!

-Poor Mickey Mouse!

-Poor Mickey!

WWF, I think!

He's definitely not backwards at coming forwards, is he?

Reuben!

Watch the nurse's head!

Ah, he's a bit of a live wire!

He's definitely got plenty of energy and I think if there was any kind

of advert for transplants, then I think he's your guy.

Two hours after arriving, it's time

for Reuben to have his extensive dental surgery.

The quicker we go, then you can have something to eat.

-Ah, yeah.

-Leaving Bed 3 behind, the family head to theatre.

When you wake up, I'll be here.

Eh?

Right, do you want to give Mummy a big kiss?

Give Mummy a kiss and a cuddle.

-Ah, are you ready?

-That's it.

-OK?

-See you in a bit.

All right.

You're all right, don't cry.

-Are you ready? Get ready for the wind.

-Whoa!

See... I'll see you when you wake up!

OK, aren't we?

Really teary. Every time, all the time.

And he's only having some teeth out.

But, er...

Just reminds me of when we both went in with him when he had

his liver transplant to put him to sleep. Always

reminds me of... Even when you're walking by intensive care,

the one that he was in. He...

You do, it's your baby, ain't it?

Later, we'll re-join Reuben as he's put to sleep on surgical Bed 4.

You've done really well. You've done so well by taking that.

Never gets easier.

-Oh!

-Got me!

Got you!

SIREN WAILS

Back in Barnsley in South Yorkshire...

Here, the A&E department has five specialist resus beds...

Fine, I think we'll see you in resus. We've got beds in there.

..reserved for patients who need close monitoring.

All emergency departments will have

a resuscitation room of varying size.

That's where we see the most critically ill and injured patients.

Things like sepsis, strokes, heart attacks, major trauma.

Today, Resus Bed 2 is transporting 16-year-old Lewis into the

resuscitation room.

Right, Lewis, let's get you in here. Now, we...

The aspiring young footballer has dislocated his elbow during trials

at Championship club Barnsley FC.

Have you got any tingling in your fingers?

No.

With him is dad, Brian.

And can you lift your thumb up? Good, and this one?

Perfect, right...

In his second match he's fallen back on his arm and he's

been kicked in the elbow,

which has dislocated.

It just felt like me arm snapped.

Felt sick.

Heart... It's heart-wrenching to see your own child get hurt.

Consultant Dr Humphrey is on shift.

So do you play for Barnsley... Barnsley Academy or something?

-Er, no, I was just trying...

-You're trying out for them?

-Yeah.

-So are you...

-Well, yeah,

he went to Leeds yesterday and they've taken

-his details, so...

-Oh, right, OK.

So you're sort of shopping around for a contract, are you?

Yeah.

He's got other trials coming up,

so he has to get himself back fit, so...

The elbow is one of the most common joints dislocated in children.

Sport injuries cause around half of them.

You've got to put a lot of force through your elbow to dislocate it.

So as you can see on the X-ray, his joint, it's popped out the back.

This cup here should be over here.

And to put that back in,

what you have to do is basically make him nice and relaxed,

take the pain away and allow all the muscles to relax to enable me just

to gently push it back into place without doing any further damage.

Without painkiller, this procedure would be agonising.

Lewis will be given a high dose of sedative.

Relax, OK? This is where you need to relax.

You do realise this'll be on Match Of The Day when you're playing for,

-erm... goodness knows who.

-Leeds.

Eh? No, you're going to play for Spurs. I've decided.

A budding young professional footballer,

then the main issue for me is actually making sure we actually get

his elbow back into the right position and avoid any nerve damage

which may cause paralysis of the hand or the fingers,

which would obviously affect his future career.

We'll return to Lewis and Resus Bed 2 later,

as Dr Humphrey tries to put his dislocated elbow back into place.

Leicester's Royal Infirmary.

Here, the maternity unit's 16 beds deliver over 100 babies a week.

Well done, you did really well.

Mummy's here. It's OK, baby.

Recently, though, these beds have seen even more births than usual.

It's about 42 weeks now

that Leicester won the Premiership League.

As a result, we've had a nice big baby boom.

Yeah, because when people are happy, they celebrate!

Maternity Bed 5 is ready for 41-year-old Gillian.

You can take a seat there or in the chair or on the bed.

Husband Matt is with her.

Assume your natural pose, which is generally lying down!

Yeah!

Our journey started some time around the second or third week of May.

Actually, the village itself

was in very high spirits and probably we were, too, to be fair!

Must have been, yeah!

Gillian is three days overdue.

She's come in today for an induction to move her into labour.

It's so nice to have a bed beside the window,

cos remember when we had Danny, it was really warm.

Let me have a little look at your veins, sweetie.

Do you want to sit in the chair, yeah?

Midwife Robinson is on the day shift.

So I'm going to pop a cannula in

so I can just take your bloods and everything.

Gillian and Matt met seven years ago.

18 months later, Gillian had her first baby,

but she needed an emergency Caesarean section.

This time, she's hoping to have a natural birth.

There is definitely a part of me

that wants to bring this child into the world myself.

It's kind of strange to, erm, hand over that...

..responsibility to a surgeon.

In the UK, one in five labours have to be induced like Gillian's.

-OK.

-You're doing well.

-I'm not doing too badly, I think.

-You're doing really well. I'm really proud of you.

-Thanks.

More than 12 hours have passed since Gillian was induced.

Midwife Wells has taken over her care.

-OK, all done, darling.

-OK...

The best thing that you can do at the moment would be walk round...

-OK.

-Erm, getting on the ball,

opening out your pelvis.

-OK.

-OK? Getting baby's head right down onto that cervix.

-OK.

-Let me lift the head of the bed up for you, darling.

Gillian's progress towards a natural birth isn't going to plan.

Our induction is maybe a little bit slower than they'd like.

Once I get off the bed and finish with this round of monitoring,

it's up and down the stairs, bounce on our ball,

do everything I can to try and move things along a little bit further.

Later, we'll return to Gillian,

to find out if she can experience her dream birth.

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

..on A&E Bed 12, doctors are concerned

for 64-year-old Charles's health.

Right, any family history of cancer or anything?

Grandmother, uncle...

mother, brother...

On Resus Bed 2,

16-year-old Lewis is praying his dislocated elbow

won't ruin his footballing hopes.

I want to get back to it as soon as possible.

And in Leeds, on Surgical Bed 4,

six-year-old Reuben faces surgery once again.

He's done well. He's a fighter.

Back at Barnsley Hospital, A&E Bed 12

is taking 64-year-old Charles for X-rays.

Hold your breath.

Breathe away.

Doctors fear he might have

a potentially life-threatening blockage in his bowels.

Oh...

Pop that side up so you don't go anywhere.

You all right? Do you want to lay back down a bit?

If Charles has a blockage,

he'll need to stay in hospital for an operation.

He's worried about being away from his disabled wife,

who he's been caring for for 12 years.

She became ill in Collia in Spain,

and she's got a problem with her back.

She can't walk any further than that door to that curtain.

You know, we use a wheelchair for going shopping and stuff like that.

Charles's X-rays are back.

They show no signs of a bowel blockage,

but tests ordered by Dr Griffiths show his white blood cell count

is sky-high, which can sometimes be a sign of cancer.

Some of the blood tests have come back. He's got a problem

with his kidneys and his inflammatory markers are up as well.

So there's clearly something going on.

-Hello again.

-Hi.

Just a quick update.

Erm, your X-rays look fine.

I can't see any obvious evidence of sort of peritonitis or something

that's burst in your tummy.

There's clearly something going on and it's made you feel unwell,

so we're going to get you up to the surgical ward in a little while

and the surgical team will obviously carry on your care.

So as soon as they're ready for you, we'll get you upstairs, Mr Hewitt.

-All right?

-OK, thank you.

-Hello there.

-Hello!

Specialist doctors Mr Alamin and Dr Kelly

come to talk to Charles to get some family history.

We're from the surgical department.

Well, you're having trouble with your abdomen, is that right?

Any family history of bowel cancer or anything?

I don't know if it were bowel cancer, but...

..grandmother, uncle, mother, brother...

OK.

..and they've all gone with cancer.

-You're not sure what cancer it was?

-I don't know.

I think... I think my grandmother was definitely bowel cancer.

Charles needs to be admitted for further tests to get to the bottom

of his concerning blood test results.

'I know it's for my own good

'and the sooner I can get better,

'the sooner I can get back to looking after Wendy.'

A&E Bed 12 takes Charles to the surgical ward.

It's then free to return to A&E to wait for its next patient.

Back at Leeds Children's Hospital,

six-year-old Reuben is on Surgical Bed 4.

He's about to be put to sleep.

OK, mate, you're a brave boy, aren't you?

You're OK.

You're OK, mate, yeah? You're OK.

See you in a bit. See you later, mate. Good boy.

Thanks, guys.

Reuben had a liver transplant at the age of one.

His liver problems and treatment have led to tooth decay.

Consultant dental surgeon Mrs O'Sullivan

will be performing the operation.

Reuben's got some decayed baby teeth and he's got some teeth that

haven't developed very well because of his liver problems,

so we're going to make them look nicer for him,

so he can have a nice smile.

The original liver disorder that he had,

some of the products that go through your liver then get into

the dentine of the tooth and cause quite a lot of staining underneath,

so it makes the teeth look quite brown.

While Reuben's in theatre,

his parents, Beth and Mark, wait by Paediatric Bed 3.

Look at that.

The operation's bringing back memories

of his life-saving liver transplant.

-That's when he first stood up, that, wasn't it?

-Yeah.

-When he got his strength to stand up.

-Yeah.

-Seems like a lifetime ago.

-It does.

Looking at pictures, it don't feel like he was even there.

To be told at one year old

you don't know whether he's going to pull through or not,

to then looking at him now, just getting his...

It still brings it all back.

If somebody saw him that didn't know him, you wouldn't even know

that he's been through what he's been through.

He's done well. He's a fighter.

After 90 minutes in surgery,

Reuben's operation is over and he can be reunited with his parents.

I didn't think he'd be asleep, though,

-I've never seen him asleep in recovery.

-No.

He'll be tired out, bless him.

It's not long before he begins to stir.

I'll go that side, then he can see...

Oh, Reuben.

-OK. OK.

-Hiya, love.

-Are you all right?

-REUBEN CRIES

-You're OK.

-All right, baby.

-Trolley's coming anyway, so...

-There we go.

Leaving Surgical Bed 4 behind...

..Reuben can now re-join Paediatric Bed 3 to recuperate.

-OK.

-You want something to eat?

-We'll get you something to eat now.

Get you a drink first.

-Need a wee-wee or anything?

-No.

Are you going to have Mickey Mouse?

Here you are, love.

Shh!

Three hours after surgery, Reuben's up and about.

-Yeah, that's fine. Thank you.

-And I've got your signature.

-And it's time to go.

-Thank you.

-Bye!

-See you later.

-Bye.

-Yeah!

-You've been a brave boy, haven't ya?

-Very brave.

-Nice new set of teeth now.

-Where's the mirror?

I'll get you a mirror now

so you can have a look at your nice, new, white teeth.

It's a lot better to just be in for day.

In and out, that's what we like, ain't it?

As Reuben and his family leave,

Paediatric Bed 3 can be cleaned and prepped ready for its next patient.

Back at Barnsley Hospital, on Resus Bed 2,

doctors are getting ready to reset

16-year-old Lewis' dislocated elbow.

Dad Brian is by his side.

You just relax.

Relax, relax, relax, relax, relax...

It's a tricky procedure.

Dr Humphrey needs to give footballer Lewis a strong sedative.

Pretend you're playing for Leeds at Elland Road.

It's the quarterfinal of the FA Cup.

Open your eyes for us.

Relax your arm.

There's a risk of serious damage being caused during the manipulation

if doctors don't get it right.

You have to be careful about any potential nerves and blood vessels

around the joint,

because if you overstretch those, then that can cause damage later on.

Within minutes, Dr Humphrey's skilled hand

puts Lewis's elbow back into place.

Ah...

All done.

-It's done?

-Yeah, yeah.

-Could do with a nap myself.

-LAUGHTER

Basically, what he's had is a drug called ketamine.

It's most well known for being an anaesthetic that vets use.

The lights'll be on, but there'll be no-one at home.

OK, son?

Does it feel a bit weird?

But what we like to do is let them wake up without

too much stimulation,

otherwise they can become quite agitated,

cos it's very disorientating, having ketamine.

Oh, my God...

Did it look horrible when he put it back in?

No, it was just...

Was it? Did he just move it?

Oh...

Yeah, I can move it.

Are you back in the land of the living?

Er, sort of.

All right, let's disconnect you from all of this

and get you round for an X-ray, shall we?

After 20 minutes on Resus Bed 2, Lewis needs a second X-ray.

It will be crucial for his footballing career

that there's been no lasting damage.

At least he can move it now, get it in the position they want,

whereas before he was in a lot of pain.

Must be good stuff they give him.

A good little in-and-out job.

Lewis has important football trials for Premiership clubs lined up

for the month ahead.

Feels a bit better. It's still sore when I move it,

but just hope I can recover quick.

The X-rays show that Lewis' elbow is back in place,

but there is some ligament damage.

-OK? It's back in.

-Yeah.

-You'll just feel a bit stiff. All right?

-Yeah, it is a bit, yeah.

And you can see that your elbow's a little bit more swollen

-probably than the other one.

-Yeah.

Yeah, OK. So, you're going to have a little bit of swelling round there.

-Any questions?

-No.

-You sure?

-Yeah, that's fine.

-OK.

When were you supposed to have another trial, then?

-It's half term now.

-Well, it's March, the next one, really.

-They're always coming up so...

-Yeah.

If he was my son, I think I'd be looking at

at least a month without playing.

School's fine. Yeah, don't worry, you know.

Sorry about that.

I want to get back to it as soon as possible.

He's just not going to stop his football, so...

I don't know... Kids, eh?

Lewis is discharged.

Resus Bed 2 is prepped ready for its next patient.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

How are you feeling in yourself? Any pain?

Here, the 81 beds in the day surgery unit work a 12-hour shift.

There's not enough beds at the moment, but it all works out.

They're often on the move,

taking patients to and from the hospital's many operating theatres.

Excusez-moi, s'il vous plait?

-LAUGHTER

-Thank you!

Day Surgery Bed 32 is prepped and ready for its next patient.

It shouldn't be too long now.

What time is it? It's 10 to 12.

Former builder 78-year-old Pat

has come in with his wife of 55 years, Dolly.

He's here to have a dialysis line removed from his chest.

-Patrick Fitzpatrick?

-Oh, love, that's you.

Hold on a minute till I get me handbag.

Pat's been on kidney dialysis for the last four months

due to a serious infection.

Just take a seat there, Patrick.

This will mark the end of a tough journey to recovery.

You'll have to get your gown and all on.

What are we having done today, Patrick?

-I'm having a line taken out.

-Taken out, lovely.

Nurse Davis is looking after Pat today.

What are you, a male nurse?

-That's what they tell me.

-Ah, well, that's good enough for me!

Pat and Dolly met at a dance 58 years ago.

We met in the Shamrock in Birmingham.

I asked her for a dance and she said she would.

You've just got to get up and get going

and try and make the best of what you've got.

That's always been our motto - just get on with it.

That's what life is all about.

I had him waltzing round the table on Sunday afternoon.

With this girl beside you, you don't have no choice.

He was in dialysis from the end of October until

the second two weeks in January.

Pat's treatment is now complete.

But just three months ago,

it was touch and go whether he would survive.

One of the evenings, he took poorly and they sent for the paramedics.

For the whole lot of us, it was devastating,

because we thought, "Will he come out of this at all?"

Now, sit back now. Is that better? Or not?

Our son came in and gave him

what's classed in the Catholic Church as the last rites.

-You OK, pet?

-Yeah.

That's good.

-OK, sir. I'll see you later on, sir.

-OK.

-OK, then.

It's time for Day Surgery Bed 32 to take Pat to theatre.

Watch your toes, Dolly.

-OK, love. See you later. Good luck.

-See you later.

Surgeons will soon remove the line in his chest,

marking the end of his kidney dialysis.

So you've been here before, then?

Later, we rejoin Day Surgery Bed 32,

to find out how Pat gets on in theatre.

Almost there.

Back at Leicester's Royal Infirmary,

on Maternity Bed 5,

it's more than 20 hours since 41-year-old Gillian was induced.

Husband Matt is with her.

I'd just like things to move on, wouldn't I?

-As long as you and baby are healthy, then that's fine.

-Yeah.

With her first child, Gillian needed an emergency Caesarean.

This time, she wants to have a natural birth.

We were asked to stay active and stay mobile,

so walked up and down like a demented zombie

till about ten past four,

when the very kind midwife said perhaps I should have some sleep.

But doctors have decided the induction isn't working.

For the safety of Gillian and her unborn baby,

she'll have to have a Caesarean section.

Midwife Constance has had to break the news.

You all right?

Yeah, not unexpected, but still gutting, isn't it?

-No, no. It's just, like...

-Still gutting.

-Yeah.

-Yeah. OK, all right.

Well, I'll give you a bit of time alone.

You can pop obviously your trousers and everything back on.

Yeah, thank you. It's a sunny day and it's going to be fine.

You did the best you could.

Honestly, you did the best you could.

She is upset about it,

as all women are when they end up having to have Caesarean sections,

because it's surgery.

So she's upset, cos I think she felt that she wanted to do it on her own.

You on the bed?

The time has come for Gillian and Maternity Bed 5 to head to surgery.

So this is the theatre, Gillian.

The team are waiting for you.

This is Gillian, everybody.

Hi, Gillian.

I'm a bit nervous.

Maternity Bed 5 has handed Gillian over to the operating table.

We'll be back later to find out whether Gillian's Caesarean section

goes according to plan.

Back at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital,

Day Surgery Bed 32 is taking former builder Pat to theatre.

That's what they call me.

He's had four months of gruelling kidney dialysis.

Today, the line he had fitted for treatment

is being removed from his chest.

We're going to be doing a procedure for you today.

I need to make a small incision just on the surface of the skin here and

that will allow me to free this cuff that you've got on in the line.

So, this is the sharp bit. Right.

Pat's wife and dancing partner of 55 years is waiting outside.

So we're very pleased now today that the line is coming out

and that's the end of the dialysis.

So we've still got a few dance years, we hope, left in us.

Quite a few.

Breathe in, breathe out. Yeah. Good. Excellent.

Perfect. There we go.

In less than 15 minutes, the line is successfully removed.

-All done.

-Good lad.

Thank you very much.

No problem.

That were very good.

Didn't feel a thing.

Pat and Day Surgery Bed 32 head back to the ward

to be reunited with wife Dolly.

Hello, love.

-All right, dear.

-Yes, and you?

How you doing, mate, all right?

Thank you very much.

How are you, love?

-I'm all right, dear.

-Nice to see you back. Are you OK, pet?

-Yeah.

That's good. Are you hungry?

-No.

-Now how do you feel

now that you don't have to have that line in again?

I feel absolutely wonderful.

-That is brilliant, isn't it?

-That is...

Life is going to be the same as it was beforehand, I hope.

We're still as upbeat as we were before all of this started.

Look here, keep this covered up.

Put your hand back a bit. That's it.

The future's looking very rosy

and as long as we can do a slow waltz or an old time waltz,

we're quite happy with that.

You're on the right road now. That's another one over.

That's another one ticked off.

And then when you feel better in yourself,

then we'll be able to go dancing, yeah?

DOLLY LAUGHS

You're not getting away with that now, love.

Don't think you are. Don't think you are.

So the first old time waltz that comes on, anywhere we're going,

you're definitely... you're being asked now

and it's the lady's choice so you can't refuse.

Cos if you do you, won't get asked again.

-Have I ever refused you?

-Yeah, you won't get asked again.

90 minutes later

and just four hours after checking onto the day surgery ward,

Patrick and Bed 32 part company.

OK, that's good.

-See you in a little while, sir.

-Yes, that's fine.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

Thank you.

Pat and Dolly head home.

But there's just time to practise that waltz before they go.

That's good, to be quite honest.

You see, now that's better than you were on Sunday.

That's better than you were on Sunday.

-There's room for more improvement.

-Not an awful lot, but a little.

-Right.

-Anyway, thanks very much.

Back at Leicester's Royal Infirmary...

..Maternity Bed 5 is all alone.

Mum-to-be Gillian has been taken to the operating theatre

and is having an epidural.

So if you do feel something that's sharp,

try your best to keep as still as you can.

Gillian wanted a natural birth but, after a failed induction,

doctors said she needed a Caesarean section.

-Is that too tight or is that...?

-No, that's fine.

Husband Matt has been by his wife's side throughout.

Hello, welcome.

This is cosy.

-How are you doing?

-Been a bit emotional.

It's a funny thing losing your baby bump.

It's... I suppose it's just

transitioning into a whole new phase, isn't it?

New phase. New phase in the journey of life.

It is a bit weird losing this beautiful connection

with this baby who's been growing inside you.

Mostly I'm happy.

I feel safe. I feel great.

Yeah, nothing to worry about.

I'm looking forward to this.

I'm not going to peek over that curtain.

-You're not, no.

-No, you're not.

Somebody would be dragging me out of here on the floor.

-Keep looking at me.

-I'm OK, I'm fine.

-Sure?

-Yeah.

More than a quarter of all babies born in the UK are delivered

by Caesarean section.

After just seven minutes in theatre...

All right.

BABY CRIES

..baby Rory is brought into the world.

You want to see your mummy, don't you?

BABY CRIES

Oh, my word!

Hello! Hello!

Yeah, well done.

-Hi, little fella.

-I feel like I've won the lottery. Great!

Finally, mum Gillian gets to hold her newborn baby, Rory.

His head's a little bit cold. Both these hats are too small.

I've got lots more.

Ah, look!

Loads of hair.

It's all worth it, Gill.

So, so happy. Safe. Safe.

He's perfect.

Gillian will be reunited with Maternity Bed 5

to be taken to a ward.

She'll spend a couple of days recovering from her surgery

before heading home.

Our hospital beds have given us intimate access

to the work of the NHS.

Lewis' elbow has repaired fully.

He's back on the football pitch and attending club trials.

Pat and Dolly are back at home

and dancing whenever they get the chance.

After a series of tests,

Charles was diagnosed with terminal leukaemia.

He's still caring for wife Wendy at home.

The beds are now back on their wards,

ready and waiting for their next round of patients.