‘Hospital’ on TV last night

Scared the ..... of me

I knew I should have watched it.

I presume you are referring to the section concerning the elderly man whose already severely damaged heart could not cope with the operation which was his only hope of survival, and whose death we followed on the operating table. I found it to be a fascinating glimpse into what happens before, during and after such circumstances, and I am very grateful to the man's next-of-kin for giving permission for it to be included in the programme. I'm also grateful to the surgeon and the anaesthetist for allowing us to observe their efforts and reactions as events unfolded. Wonderful television: factual, thought-provoking, and respectful to all concerned.

It was very sad but done with great respect I thought. Real life has its dramas and tragedies .

Hummm I wonder what legal rights relatives have to do that? It makes me feel uncomfortable tbh.

Often on these type of programmes, there are patients who clearly lack capacity to consent.

It's life, suziewoozie !

Presumably the man gave permission himself, before the op.

Well as long as he did, thats fine.

I watched it this afternoon and was incredibly sad that he could not be saved. He knew it was his last chance and had no option but to go through with the operation.
I found it very moving watching the reaction of the staff in the theatre.
Brave of his family allowing it to be shown.

Terribly sad, he seemed like a wonderful man. Felt for the team working on him especially the man with the beard he appeared genuinely upset.

I do recall reading that there was a comprehensive consent process for all patients, visitors and staff taking part in the filming of this series.
I've watched every programme and have found it to be fascinating, uplifting and also heartbreaking in parts.
I think the family of "Joe" who died on the operating table, were very brave to allow this to be shown.

I wonder why they agreed for it to be shown? Is there any public benefit at all? Seems odd to me - I would not want that moment to be aired to the nation - for what purpose?

It was a very moving episode last week. I’ve no doubt Joe’s family gave their blessing to be it being aired, maybe simply to educate people on how things can turn out. Joe’s death was also a world away from the version you see on tv dramas, I thought the operating theatre staff were compassionate and treated him with much dignity.

I witnessed a ‘crash’ event myself when I was in hospital. Another patient crashed on the ward and all the stops were pulled out for her. However, there was no shouting, no panic, people magically appeared, quietly and with no fuss. They spoke gently to her while they worked, orders being given in a calm manner and people doing their jobs. They did manage to restart her heart but she later died in ITU. I thought, though, that had they not managed to revive her, it would have been a peaceful manner in which to go as there would have been no drama or horror.

I love this series and last night’s episode about children in Alder Hey Hospital was also very moving. The staff are so professional and dedicated with an abundance of humanity. We are so lucky to have hospitals like this.

There was a similar programmed quite a while ago where an elderly man came in with a terminal condition and they had to explain that he was too ill for any further treatment, but they would make him as comfortable as they could for the time he had left. Which they did with great kindness.

The most recent one was about children with terrible health problems and the parents who cared for them . We really found this difficult but as the sister of one patient said ...if it had been her instead of her brother she would not have wanted to be kept alive BUT if it was one of her own children she would do anything to keep them alive.

This week's episode was heart breaking and there were some real ethical questions to be addressed.

That was difficult viewing. I so admire everyone involved. The young slip of a doctor, she looked traumatised at the end, poor thing.

The patient's death really hit home to us; last year DH was diagnosed with bacteria growing on his replacement heart valve and while the normal practice would be to replace the replacement, it was felt that at his age and with the scarring caused by the previous operation, he would likely not have survived. Luckily he was treated with very strong antibiotics over a long period in hospital and he pulled through, but this episode of Hospital made us wonder what we'd have done if the antibiotics hadn't worked - would we have risked the operation, knowing it was his last chance? We think we would; you take whatever chance you have just as "Joe" did. We have great admiration for his family who allowed this to be filmed and shown, and for the brilliant team of doctors & surgeons & anaesthetist involved.