Sneak peek into tonight’s episode of 24 Hours in A&E “Growing Pains”
The RTS award-winning documentary series returns for a thirteenth series following patients treated in the same 24 hour period at St George’s in south west London. The hospital has one of the busiest A&E departments in Britain – under more pressure than ever. It’s a place where stories of life, love and loss unfold every day.
18 year-old Lewis is rushed to St George’s after coming off a motorbike and colliding with two cars. As he arrives at hospital he’s taken immediately for a full body CT scan as doctors are concerned about the extent of the injuries to his pelvis, arm and head. As they conduct the initial assessment, Nurse Jerry explains why motorbike collisions are so serious.
The preliminary results of Lewis’s CT scan reveal a fracture to his right femur and Doctors need to work quickly to realign his leg to maintain the blood supply. As Lewis’s mum, Vanessa, arrives to join his family at St George’s, she explains when Lewis was a youngster he always kept them on their toes. But it was only as he got older that she began to suspect there might be a reason for his behaviour.
The full results of Lewis’s CT scan reveal a fracture to his right shoulder blade and a bleed on his brain. As doctors decide whether or not he’ll need emergency surgery, Vanessa talks of her relief when Lewis was diagnosed with ADHD as a teenager and how his close bond with his Uncle helped him through his adolescent years. But when his Uncle died, Lewis took it very badly and Vanessa explains he “was in a destructive mode…the worst he had ever, ever been in his life”. Brother, James, goes to visit Lewis in the bay in resus and tells him how much he loves him. He recalls how Lewis dealt with his Uncle’s death, “Lewis’s way was to release…in speed and anger. Constantly being fast, flying around estates on motorbikes and in cars…This is probably the ADHD and autism in him where he doesn’t quite realise what is right and wrong.”
27 year-old Sam comes to A&E after fainting and cutting his lip whilst smoking a Cuban cigar at a friend’s BBQ. The medical team decide to X ray to check for damage to his jaw. As doctors wait for the results, Sam talks about his carefree childhood growing up in Dorset and how his “Peter Pan” approach to life meant he sometimes struggled with the expected responsibilities of becoming an adult.
Producer/Director: Tim Lawton
Series Produced & Directed by: Lucie Duxbury, Gemma Brady, Martin Conway
Executive Producers: Emma Tutty, Spencer Kelly
