The Royal Free London has so far managed to remain open to all its patients.

Documentaries & Lifestyle

During late summer and autumn, The Royal Free London has so far managed to remain open to all its patients and continue with planned operations, treatment and care. However, the second wave of the pandemic has now reached London.

Hospital

Revealing documentary exploring the pressures on NHS hospital staff

Revealing documentary exploring pressures on NHS hospital staff as they battle the demands of the job. See pioneering surgery and everyday humanity among the hardworking teams.

hospital

Two patients await life-saving surgery at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington.

The first episode of a six-part landmark documentary series on the NHS which goes behind the scenes of some of the busiest and largest hospitals in the UK. Two patients await life-saving surgery at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington.

St Mary's battles with the lack of beds for patients.

The second episode of a six-part landmark documentary series on the NHS which goes behind the scenes of some of the busiest and largest hospitals in the UK. St Mary's battles with the lack of beds for patients.

After collapsing at work, Phil is becoming increasingly paralysed with each passing day.

The third episode of a six-part landmark documentary series on the NHS which goes behind the scenes of some of the busiest and largest hospitals in the UK. After collapsing at work, Phil is becoming increasingly paralysed with each passing day.

A look at the pioneering treatments used to treat patients.

Episode 4

The fifth episode of a six-part landmark documentary series on the NHS which goes behind the scenes of some of the busiest and largest hospitals in the UK. This episode looks at pioneering treatments for some of the patients in the hospital.

Surgeons are forced to use unconventional methods to operate against the odds.

Episode 5

The final episode of a six-part landmark documentary series on the NHS which goes behind the scenes of some of the busiest and largest hospitals in the UK. Surgeons are forced to use unconventional methods to operate against the odds.

St Mary's Hospital in Paddington receives victims from the Westminster terror attack.

A patient gets the chance to try a new medical treatment that might transform his life.

Extraordinary medical advances are transforming lives but some patients are at the very frontiers of what’s possible – and affordable - for the NHS.

Every day of the week, St Mary's Hospital must look after people.

Every day of the week, St Mary's Hospital must look after people who don’t need acute medical treatment but instead find themselves stuck in A&E or on a ward.

Discover what happens in Hammersmith hospital's specialist cardiac unit.

Almost ten years ago, the Trust centralised its cardiology services at Hammersmith Hospital and established one of the UK’s foremost specialist heart attack centres.

Ever increasing patient numbers mean that there are not enough beds for everyone.

In the coming weeks, the cancellations escalate. Many of the hospital’s once bustling theatres grind to a halt. Surgeons such as orthopaedic consultant Peter James, are left with little to do as hundreds of elective operations are cancelled.

Head and neck surgeon David Grant returns to find his surgical list has snowballed.

Head and neck surgeon David Grant returns from annual leave to find his surgical list has snowballed. He’s one of only two consultant surgeons at Nottingham University Hospitals’ busy cancer head and neck service.

Will Val whose entire jaw was destroyed by mouth cancer have her operation cancelled?

55-year-old Val is one such patient. Her entire jaw was destroyed by mouth cancer several years earlier. She cannot eat or talk. Leading maxillofacial consultant surgeon Dilip Srinivasan is due to operate on Val.

Lack of intensive care beds for children is becoming a nationwide problem.

Lack of children’s intensive care beds is a nationwide problem. Four-year old Esme is rushed to Queens Medical Centre from Hull 90 miles away when her closest intensive care units in Leeds and Sheffield are both completely full.

Doctors decide if 93-year-old Ray is well enough to leave hospital.

93-year-old Ray is one of the patients doctors have assessed to be well enough to leave but who is stuck in hospital. Ray has dementia and will need a complex package of care to help him once he is back at home.

Nottingham University Hospital takes care of the Trust’s sickest patients.

The critical care unit at Nottingham University Hospitals takes care of the Trust’s sickest patients. Although it has 58 beds, on most days it is completely full.

The day-to-day realities facing the NHS. Floods and an electrical fault disrupt A&E and operating theatres in the crumbling Royal.

22-year-old Sophie has been in ITU for almost 12 months.

22-year-old Sophie has been in ITU for almost 12 months. After what seemed, at first, to be just a common cold Sophie suffered serious inflammation of the brain stem.

Ten years ago, when Kate was in her twenties she had a double mastectomy.

Ten years ago, when Kate was in her twenties she had a double mastectomy after she discovered a lump in her breast.

Alder Hey Children's Hospital has a world-class reputation for cutting-edge procedures.

Alder Hey Children's Hospital has a world-class reputation for cutting-edge procedures in treating congenital heart defects.

For the first time, charts the day-to-day life of six NHS Trusts across an entire city.

For the first time, charts the day-to-day life of six NHS Trusts across an entire city Liverpool.

Six-part series for BBC Two once again captures the day-to-day realities facing the NHS.

Filmed between October and December 2018, Hospital is the story of the health service in unprecedented times.

Filmed during the winter of 2019/20, as A&E waiting times hit their highest-ever.

Filmed during the winter of 2019/20, as A&E waiting times hit their highest-ever recorded levels and the impact of exceptional demand is placing the NHS under severe pressure, Hospital is the story of the health service in unprecedented times.

As figures for knife crime nationally hit a record high, Merseyside has seen a doubling.

As figures for knife crime nationally hit a record high, Merseyside has seen a doubling in the last five years. In Aintree Hospital’s major trauma centre, a 15-strong team are trying to save the life of a young man who has just arrived by helicopter.

Heart disease remains the biggest killer in the UK and every five minutes.

Heart disease remains the biggest killer in the UK and every five minutes, across the country, someone has a heart attack. Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital’s specialist services are on the frontline of this modern epidemic.

Alder Hey Children’s Hospital predominantly treats patients up to 16 years of age.

Alder Hey Children’s Hospital predominantly treats patients up to 16 years of age. But as medical advances save children who a decade ago may not have survived, the NHS faces the challenge of providing ongoing care for these complex patients.

For the last ten years, NHS staff have been working to meet the ever-rising demand.

For the last ten years, NHS staff have been working to meet the ever-rising demand of patients coming through the front door, but there is another pressure for them to confront.

A woman is brought in by ambulance after experiencing an unexplained seizure.

The Walton Centre in Liverpool is the country’s only dedicated neurosciences hospital Trust, providing neurology, neurosurgery, spinal and pain management services. Every year, over 3,000 patients are referred to the neurology clinics here.

Eighteen-month-old Violet needs major skull-reconstructive surgery.

Eighteen-month-old Violet has been a patient at Alder Hey since birth and needs major skull-reconstructive surgery. She has craniosynostosis, a rare condition that can cause her skull to twist, pulling her brain in one direction.

Two-year-old Yeshua has an aggressive cancerous tumour in his abdomen.

Two-year-old Yeshua has an aggressive cancerous tumour in his abdomen. In Iraq, where he was born, Yeshua was given a 5 per cent chance of survival. Though high doses of chemotherapy have shrunk the tumour over the last six months.

Hospital returns for a sixth series to London’s Royal Free Trust.

Follow the human stories behind the headlines of staff and patients as they grapple with the extraordinary challenge of operating within the new Covid-19 landscape.

This episode follows the Royal Free London NHS Hospital Foundation Trust .

This episode follows the Royal Free London NHS Hospital Foundation Trust as it faces the long-lasting effects of Covid on both patients and their services, amidst the looming threat of a second wave.

This episode explores the impact of Covid-19 on the Hospital’s transplant services.

This episode explores the impact of Covid-19 on the Royal Free Hospital’s transplant services, which treat some of the hospital’s most vulnerable patients.

This episode focuses on the perpetual challenges of trying to discharge older patients .

This episode focuses on the perpetual challenges of trying to discharge older patients as they experience a bed shortage, alongside the added complexities of Covid-19 infection risks.

Barnet Hospital was hit hard by the first wave of coronavirus.

Barnet Hospital, the second largest hospital in the Royal Free Trust, was hit hard by the first wave of coronavirus. The vast majority of their capacity was taken up by Covid positive patients during the peak of the first wave.

University Hospital Coventry fights to restore services.

University Hospital Coventry fights to restore services, but with their critical care unit at capacity, a decision is taken to ration intensive care beds for major operations.

University Hospital Coventry’s gynaecological oncology department faces rising referrals.

University Hospital Coventry’s gynaecological oncology department faces rising referrals, a growing backlog and complex cases as the hospital’s theatre capacity attempts to return to normal.

This episode follows University Hospital Coventry’s maternity unit.

With a UK lockdown baby boom, this episode follows University Hospital Coventry’s maternity and specialist research unit as it deals with the more complex and high-risk pregnancies.

Two neurosurgeons must find a solution to treat both of their patients with only one bed.

At Coventry’s University Hospital, Critical Care is at full capacity, and two neurosurgeons must find a solution to treat both of their patients with only one bed available.

As lockdown eases, patients presenting with mental health concerns.

As lockdown eases, the Emergency Department at University Hospital, Coventry is experiencing a 30% increase in patients presenting with mental health concerns.

After a year on hold, Plastic Surgery can finally tackle its backlog.

After a year on hold, Plastic Surgery can finally tackle its backlog. But with NHS restoration funding unclear, difficult decisions must be made over the investment in robotic surgery.

Hospital

Hospital

Series 6

Episode 1

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 4

Episode 5

Episode 5

Episode 6

Episode 6