Casualty 24/7

It's the hottest day of the year at Barnsley Casualty. Sister Vicky has the job of keeping patients and staff cool, but with temperatures outside approaching forty degrees, it won't be easy. Volunteer Jane arrives to dispense drinks ('this could be the day when they need extra hands'). An emergency delivery of ice pops provides temporary relief, but the heat's taking its toll on the hospital generator. Deputy Medical Director Jo rushes from ward to ward, turning off the lights in a desperate attempt to stop it shutting down. Meanwhile Vicky faces staff shortages - and the water cooler's thrown a wobbly. As the hub gets hotter, the emergencies keep coming. Fifty-year-old Michael's brought in after collapsing at home. His family are worried he's had a seizure, but after examining his blood tests, Dr Blanchard has another theory. It's quite a day for hand injuries. Lead cutter Stephen's sliced open three fingers on his circular saw. Emergency Nurse Practitioner Jo administers pain relief and tells him he's lucky - he could have lost his fingers. Meanwhile, refrigeration engineer Mark is admitted after breaking his wrist at work. Waiting to hear if he'll need surgery, he rues his misfortune - he was only four weeks away from retirement. Over in Paediatrics, Abbie's in pain after hurting her hand on a fire extinguisher at school. Dr Klu's trying to treat her, but it's proving tricky - Abbie's afraid of needles.

There's a COVID spike at Barnsley Casualty and positive cases are flooding in, adding pressure to an already busy day. Sister Rachel is in charge today and as a result of COVID she's short on space and staff. Every patient needs swabbing, and waiting times are long. But there's not just COVID patients to worry about - there's a raft of other emergencies too. Fifty-year-old Richard has rushed in with severe burns across one side of his body. He was setting fire to some rubbish with petrol when his clothes caught fire. He's in severe pain and the team needs to act fast to prevent infection and minimise scarring. Also in resus is 64-year-old Jan. His smart watch sounded the alarm when his heart rate dropped to a dangerously low level. Physician Associate Wayne needs to urgently raise his heart rate as his organs are struggling and could start to fail. In minors, 77-year-old Avril has arrived with a gash to the back of her leg. She was out shopping when a boxed BBQ fell onto her from another shopper's trolley, tearing her skin. It's a nasty cut but because her skin is so thin, stitching isn't an option, so Consultant James Griffiths has to find another way to treat the injury. Volunteer Jane is back from her holiday in Egypt and is catching up with colleagues she hasn't seen in a while. Her first job of the day is to clear the corridors of clutter that has amassed in her absence - and she's determined it will get done quickly. Lorry Driver Carl is brought in by ambulance after falling from the back of his wagon. He's not just fractured his wrist, the bone has broken through the skin, making things much more complicated. He's worried that a long-planned family holiday to Florida might now be in jeopardy.

Patients are flooding into Barnsley A&E and a woman who has come in with a stomach ache goes into labour - and she had no idea she was pregnant. Next to arrive by ambulance is 87-year-old Ken, who had a fall at home and has a nasty cut to his forehead and cheek, so student doctor Saba Azizi stitches his cut while nurse Amy treats the wound on his cheek.