Casualty 24/7

When a key member of staff calls in sick at the last minute, Sister Rachael's dream of a smooth shift disappears. Instead, she has to manage a department overflowing with patients, and struggle with staff shortages, meaning longer waiting times, and no available beds. After having fallen down the stairs the night before, 44-year-old Gavin woke up with a sore neck. He walked himself into A&E, but was immediately put into a neck brace and rushed into radiology. The results shocked even the most experienced consultant treating him. It's Betty's 90th birthday, but rather than celebrate it at home, she's cut her finger and it won't stop bleeding. And two-year-old Lottie has fallen over at nursery, leaving mum Emma convinced that something sharp is lodged in her foot — will the doctor find anything? And 62-year-old Sandra suffers from a longterm, excruciating condition that means she's been into A&E more than 40 times. Dr Reddy admits that he and his colleagues sometimes feel helpless not being able to do more for those patients who have chronic ailments. Over in resus, 51-year-old Claire has had an accident while out walking her two dogs. The elbow is one of the most painful joints to dislocate, but hers is more complicated than usual. The doctors need to quickly discover the best method of getting it back in place, without causing her even more pain.