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New hospital documentary series puts NHS staff in the spotlight

A new television documentary is promising to portray the full reality of working for the of the busiest trusts in the NHS.
credit_Ryan McNamara

A new television documentary is promising to portray the reality of working for one of the busiest trusts in the NHS.

Hospital is a six-part series filmed in the last three months of 2016 at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London.

credit Ryan McNamara
Hospital will air tomorrow, on BBC2
Picture: Ryan McNamara

Starting on BBC2 on 11 January, cameras follow staff across the trust’s five hospitals, where 10,000 staff care for 20,000 patients a week, making the trust one of the largest and busiest in the country.

The trailer for the series reveals the pressures and complex decision making facing staff on a shift-by-shift basis and touches on how limited resources, increasing patient numbers and lack of time impact on every aspect of hospital life.

The series was produced in partnership with the Open University.

Truthful insights

Open University head of nursing, Julie Messenger, who acted as a consultant to the filmmakers Label1, said: ‘Unlike other hospital programmes, which focus predominantly on the experience of patients, Hospital provides a truthful insight into the inner workings of the NHS.

‘It shows the impact of decision-making by staff at all levels of the organisation in highly stressful environments, and provides a genuine account of the functioning of a hospital from the perspectives of patients, their families and staff.

‘Audiences will experience the complexities of operating a hospital, the commitment of staff in caring for patients, and the continued challenges facing our healthcare system.’

'Important to share'

Imperial director of communications Michelle Dixon added: ‘It’s not an easy decision to allow camera crews in to follow all aspects of daily life in our hospitals.

‘But we think it’s really important to share the opportunities and challenges, the highs and the lows, with our patients and local communities.

‘It’s their service as much as ours and the only way we can ensure we maintain and build on the very best of the NHS is by working together.’

Hospital airs on BBC2 on 11 January at 9pm.


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