A&E After Dark

Lifting the lid on the night shift as experienced by A&E workers, with exclusive access to Hull Royal Infirmary. The night-time challenges facing NHS staff are captured in their raw form.

In North London security must manage an abusive man as he refuses to leave, despite being discharged and a patient suffering from a heroin overdose is rushed to Rotherham General Hospital's resus. Coming to his wit's end with a severe toothache, patient Kieran's abscess spreads to his airways and Doctor Mehran must decide whether he needs emergency surgery. Plus, security guard Justin suffers a head wound after being attacked when he tried to prevent a theft at his work.

During an A&E nightshift in South Yorkshire nurse Luke treats a man who's developed a bleeding haematoma. After becoming involved in an altercation a young man suffers a gash on his forehead which nurse Ayaan treats, sending him for an in-depth cranial examination. In Rotherham, Doctor Bethany sees to a patient with and neck injuries due to a car crash on a country road. At the North Middlesex University Hospital police bring in a patient who is under arrest, staying with him while he is being triaged to ensure the safety of staff. In Tunbridge Wells as 85-year-old Mo injures her wrist after having a fall, X-rays reveal that her wrist is fractured meaning a lengthy recovery for Mo. Plus, towards the end of the nightshift in Rotherham an unresponsive man is brought into resus by paramedics. Doctor Ed and Nurse Gemma must work fast to stabilise the patient, suspecting he is a diabetic and has suffered a stroke.

In Rotherham's A&E a patient with a suspected head injury is under arrest in the car park. Nurse Rachel makes an initial assessment and coaxes them inside so their health can be determined before police questioning. Specialist maxillofacial Doctors Meghan and Mehran attempt to stitch a 48-year-old patient's face with minimal scarring, from multiple puncture wounds and a deep split lip from a dog bite. A 17-year-old arrives at London's North Middlesex University Hospital after falling backwards and hitting his head. A near loss of consciousness is the main concern for staff, however the patient's is shaving his hair. In Tunbridge Wells Dr Ahmed prepares to receive a trauma patient who's fallen from her horse. The young girl is a selective mute, which makes communicating pain a challenge and risks her becoming agitated. In London, Dr Fahri treats a patient with an unusual eye injury from mixing concrete, without a specialist eye clinic open, the A&E team attempt to wash and treat the eye.

In Tunbridge Wells A&E an ambulance crew bring in a patient who is behaving aggressively, sister Geraldine calls security, but the patient takes off, refusing treatment. At North Middlesex University Hospital, a patient's heart stops beating, so the team tries to save their life and maintain blood flow to the brain. At the North London Emergency Department, a 45-year-old suffers life-threatening anaphylaxis from an allergic reaction.

Nurse Simone has a drunk patient and his equally drunk friend who have passed out in a cubicle, Nurse Sheena must examine a 50-year-old man's puncture wounds from a dog attack. Dr Kaylee is working quickly to investigate a suspected broken ankle, and Dr Luke is concerned with a patients breathing difficulties, who has been brought into resus in a diabetic coma.

A man is rushed in to Majors suffering with a collapsed lung.

Police bring in an abusive male under arrest who claims he has a racing heart, and two friends arrive in resus who have dislocated each other's shoulders during a friendly wrestle.

Overnight in Rotherham's A+E always sees regular patients making an appearance. A man has been rushed in, escorted by police with a suspected overdose. Nurse Sophie and the team must race to treat and calm the patient before he begins his usual disruptive shenanigans.

Over in minors, 31-year-old Matthew's chin is in a bad shape after a terrible accident on his bike. His chin has an excruciating tear from the outside right through into his mouth. Fortunately Rotherham's 24/7 maxillary facial team is on hand to stitch Matthew's face back together. It's an emotional evening for him and his partner Sally as the trauma of the crash becomes too much for them both.

It's a busy night for Nurse Dani as 57-year-old Beverly was found unconscious in her home and brought into resus by ambulance. It's critical that the team intubate Beverly so she can breathe, but it's a delicate life-saving procedure that must be performed before her oxygen levels drop.

150 miles south in North Middlesex University Hospital, another cyclist has been hit by a car. Having just delivered a takeaway, this patient was taken out on his bike by an unknown driver. Dr Kefe is worried about multiple injuries with this mechanism of injury, and orders and array of x-rays.

As the ambulance service is overrun, 36-year-old Terry took a taxi to A+E after dislocating his knee while shopping. While it popped back on its own, the swelling is a concern and there is a danger of fractured bones or his knee being out of alignment.

In the Tunbridge Wells Children's A+E a young footballer has badly hurt his ankle. When Dr Martha sees the x-ray, she realises it's a particularly nasty break and this mini athlete will be looking at a painful manipulation and possible surgery.

A+E Departments are seeing alcohol abuse on the rise and in Rotherham an alcohol-dependent patient arrives at the rapid assessment unit after faceplanting onto concrete. The patient is agitated but Dr Alex's primary concern is spinal damage and brain injury. They transfer the patient to resus just in time to intercept a seizure. Time is critical but this patient's behaviour is getting in the way of a life-saving brain scan.

214 miles south in Tunbridge Wells, a rider has fallen off her horse while at a gallop. This is a serious trauma, and tingling down her right side means she needs thorough diagnostic tests. However, this patient has a crippling needle phobia which she must overcome to receive urgent care.

In the waiting room, 67-year-old Royce is concerned that a wound he sustained during a bathroom renovation has become infected. Doctor Chukwudi is worried about this smelly cut so inspects it for sepsis and infection.

In North Middlesex Hospital, Dr Jack is looking after a patient with a complex medical history. Frank called paramedics after waking in the night unable to breathe. With a history of pneumonia and previous heart surgery it's not looking good. Frank rapidly needs more oxygen in his blood, so the ITU team is called for more invasive treatment.

Over in Majors, patient Rico has damaged his hand at an arcade. Turns out Rico was too strong for the punching bag and Nurse Sheena is concerned about loss of sensation in his hand.

Back in Rotherham, a young man was getting dressed when he heard a pop in his shoulder. With a strong suspicion it's dislocated, and the x-ray to confirm it, this patient is in a world of pain. Putting it into place is even worse and his reaction to the pain medication is a shock.

A&E in London's North Middlesex University Hospital is heating up thanks to an aggressive male who claims he has been attacked. Language is a barrier but by a stroke of luck, Advanced Clinical Practitioner Albena translates. The patient is incoherent, threatening, and is a risk to others, so security stand close until his suspected psychosis can be managed.

In Rotherham, children's Nurse Kiera is pulling out all the stops for an 11-year-old girl who stepped on glass and sliced her foot open. As feet contain thousands of nerve endings, it isn't a fun evening for this poppet, made worse by the amount of blood continuing to pour out.

An ambulance crew has rushed 77-year-old Susan into Tunbridge Wells A&E with a dislocated knee. What was supposed to be a lovely dog walk has quickly turned into a painful procedure. It's vital Dr Paul uses gentle hands to work Susan's knee back into place and avoid further damage.

Back in London, a young man is waiting to have his hand seen to after punching a pub window. Eighteen-year-old Lenny is convinced his hand is broken and unfortunately Nurse Emmanuel agrees. Although he can't feel much now, when the alcohol wears off Lenny might painfully regret the evening's events.

Nurse Sophie is on triage in Rotherham tonight as pensioner Graham comes in with his son. His gums haven't stopped bleeding days after a tooth extraction. As Graham is on blood thinners this launches him into the high-risk category.

And an unresponsive patient comes into resus in London after being found unconscious on the pavement. As the patient can't respond to any questions, it's vital that the team proceed with the worst-case scenario in mind.

In North Middlesex University Hospital, Dr Fahri is running A&E and treats an aggressive patient having a mental health episode. As he is a threat to himself and the community, he must be restrained and admitted to the dedicated mental health department.

In Resus, a patient known to Dr Zoya has been rushed in after having a series of seizures. Concerned that his brain is deprived of oxygen, the team must establish what is causing the seizures, while Volodymyr remains in a critical condition.

Up north in Rotherham, police have brought in a patient who hurt his ankle while fleeing arrest. This patient requires immediate care to determine the damage caused after falling from a 3-metre-high wall.

Back in London, 33-year-old Zagham has been brought in wearing a makeshift splint after falling off a ladder at work. Shockingly, Zagham could see his leg was deformed after the accident and after x-rays, the break is confirmed to be worse than anyone thought, with sharp shards of bone threatening his blood vessels.

In North London, another patient is in police custody. As he is known to be alcohol dependent, his heart palpitations mean that he could be in withdrawal. An urgent assessment of his heart is done, as well as treatment for the potentially lethal terrifying effect of alcohol withdrawal.

Over in majors, elderly dementia patient Avril has fallen at the local hairdressers. Dr John needs to give her a thorough examination to ensure there is not an injury lurking.

In Tunbridge Wells, David has come in with severe abdominal pain. Intense pain in this region suggests he may have a leak in his aorta and Dr Elise is racing to scan for this life-threatening condition. The clock is ticking to diagnose David's condition and save his life.