999 - On the front line S12E01 (4th May 2024)
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00:01Ambulance service is the patient breathing.
00:04I've got a little bad pain in my back.
00:07And I've got kidney disease.
00:09He just keeps choking on his legs.
00:12He's looking to breathe.
00:14I think I'm in severe lap.
00:16I can't get up to hospital.
00:18I don't know what to do.
00:20Starts in the morning, eh?
00:22I know.
00:24We're on board with the paramedics
00:26of West Midlands Ambulance Service.
00:29This job changes every day.
00:32Can I get fire or police?
00:36Somebody with bolt cutters.
00:38Saving lives and making a difference every day.
00:43You say the patient's been stabbed?
00:45In a medical emergency,
00:47six million people rely on them.
00:50You can go to people giving birth
00:53and in their most traumatic time of their life.
00:55You could be having a bleed on your brain.
00:57OK, I might move in.
00:59Filming simultaneously with seven paramedic crews.
01:02It's got loads of things going on.
01:04Take a steady breath for me.
01:05Capturing life...
01:06Oh!
01:07..on the front line.
01:09There's no price you could put on saving somebody's life.
01:12I don't actually think it's as cold today.
01:24You know what I think?
01:25I think it is.
01:26My hand's cut.
01:27Oh, my God.
01:28On the neck as well.
01:29It's a chilly 6.30am in the West Midlands.
01:33And for the paramedics,
01:35it's the start of another 12-hour shift.
01:38You have to get your thermals on soon, Neil.
01:40Yeah, I know.
01:41Tell me about it.
01:42Get the old string vest on.
01:43You got the keys, haven't you?
01:44Ready to go?
01:45Yeah, we're all good.
01:46Go.
01:47As they head out on the road,
01:55the crews are putting the world to rights.
01:58You know what I don't find's fair?
02:01What?
02:02It's a weekend and I'm here.
02:05You work hard.
02:07You do 13, 14-hour days.
02:09But the minute, I don't get to go on holiday.
02:12I think the fact that seasonal drinks,
02:15like pumpkin spice lattes,
02:18why can I not have one of those every day of the year?
02:21Why do I have to wait until Halloween
02:23to get a pumpkin spice latte?
02:24Disgusting.
02:25You know what just isn't fair?
02:27What?
02:28That we weren't born in a warmer country.
02:30HE LAUGHS
02:45I'll do it for both of us.
02:46Emma and Abby.
02:47Action.
02:48How many babies have you done with us?
02:52Four.
02:53Have you seen how they do to their ends?
02:57They literally just rip.
02:59Yeah.
03:00They just cut the first little bit
03:02and then they get their fingers in there and they just rip.
03:04Oh, my God.
03:05Drag my baby out.
03:06Do you know what they do is they just rip it?
03:08Because it meshes back together easier than if it's a straight line.
03:12Straight cut.
03:13You just say everything out loud.
03:15Probably because I've got no filter, I don't care, do I?
03:18No.
03:19I suppose it's a good way to be, isn't it?
03:21I mean, there's a ton and a plan.
03:24HE LAUGHS
03:25Keeps me entertaining.
03:28Keeps me entertained.
03:29Ambulance service.
03:30Is the patient breathing?
03:31Yes.
03:32And what's the emergency?
03:33What's happened?
03:34I think I'm in like severe life, but I can't get up the hospital or anything because I don't
03:50know what to do.
03:51If you do feel the need to push, I'm here with you and we can go through what needs to happen.
03:57OK, sweetheart.
03:58I'm going to wipe my baby.
04:01So, we're now going to a Cat 1, a 25-year-old in established labour.
04:16So, hopefully, we'll have a little baby.
04:18I know.
04:19Do we now call it a mix between Abby and Emma?
04:24What would that be?
04:26Emmy?
04:27They could call it Emmy.
04:28Like, EM for you and IE for me.
04:31Yeah.
04:32How excited were you that we were on the way to a baby?
04:35I was really excited with you.
04:36Yeah.
04:37It's nerve-wracking as well, though, because, you know, it can either be like the best day
04:41ever or this could go horribly wrong.
04:43So, we've got an update.
04:44I'm taking an assignment.
04:45Constant pain.
04:4637 weeks pregnant.
04:47Oh, oh, no.
04:48What?
04:49I had a stillbirth last year.
04:50Hearing that Chloe had had a stillbirth the previous year did make us a little bit more apprehensive
05:04and anxious towards the job, not just for us, but also with how Mum would be and how it's
05:10added pressure for her.
05:11Pull up here.
05:12Yeah.
05:13Just stop where you are, if that sounds.
05:14PHONE RINGS
05:17Hello!
05:19I'm Abby.
05:20This is Emma.
05:21What's been going on, darling?
05:22I'm in really bad pain at the moment.
05:23OK.
05:24OK.
05:25I have been for about 20 minutes.
05:26OK.
05:27So, does it feel like a contraction sort of pain?
05:28Yeah, but constant.
05:29They were like every two minutes.
05:30OK.
05:31It's constant.
05:3225-year-old Chloe is 37 and a half weeks pregnant.
05:34Sister Ruby, son Leighton, and Mum Lyndon are pregnant.
05:39She's pregnant.
05:40She's pregnant.
05:41She's pregnant.
05:42She's pregnant.
05:43She's pregnant.
05:44She's pregnant.
05:45She's pregnant.
05:46She's pregnant.
05:47She's pregnant.
05:48And Mum Lindsay are also here.
05:51We'll just get a quick set of obs on you.
05:54I'm guessing you're booked into city?
05:57Yeah.
05:58OK.
05:59Have you taken anything for your pain?
06:01No, but I'm only on aspirin.
06:03Two aspirin.
06:04OK.
06:05Hello.
06:06Are you excited to be a big brother?
06:08Yeah.
06:09Are you going to be the best big brother?
06:11No.
06:12Are we having a girl or a boy?
06:13Girl.
06:14Girl.
06:15Have you had waters broke?
06:16Lost your mucus plug or anything?
06:18No.
06:19Normal pregnancy or consultant-led?
06:21Normal.
06:22OK.
06:23No complications at all so far?
06:25No.
06:26I had a stool board last year, though.
06:27OK.
06:28Can you feel baby's head?
06:30I haven't felt a move in a little bit.
06:31OK.
06:32Chloe's waters hadn't broken and she hadn't felt baby move for about 20 minutes when we got
06:42there.
06:43So that was a bit of a tense time for us.
06:45Next time you get a contraction, can you tell me so I can time it, see how long it lasts and
06:52then tell me when it stops?
06:53It's not constant, but then it intensifies.
06:55So when it intensifies, let us know, OK?
06:58Yeah.
06:59Let me know when it's stopped.
07:02Well, I don't know, cos it's constant, isn't it?
07:04I'd say no, no.
07:05You can tell by the way you're breathing.
07:06I'd say 12...12.0...12.07.
07:10So contractions are like every, say, two and a half minutes.
07:13No.
07:14And have we felt baby move yet?
07:16No.
07:17No?
07:18You don't have the urge to push?
07:21No?
07:23No, it's just for your name.
07:26Just get a spot of blood from your finger, OK?
07:29Oh, my boy.
07:31Has baby got a name?
07:34Not fully decided yet, but there's my...
07:37Oh!
07:38Literally, on the way here, so my name's Abbey has, it's Emma, I said, oh, between them,
07:43like, mix it up, it'll be Emmy.
07:45And then I thought that's what you were just going to say.
07:49But that's a cute name.
07:514.4.
07:52Give that a little squeeze for me.
07:54Have you spoke to maternity?
07:56They told me to go in.
07:58But they can't ring ambulances themselves.
08:01And my car's broke, like, and everything's just going wrong, honestly.
08:05We'll see how you go over...
08:07It's coming.
08:08It's coming again.
08:09OK.
08:10So that was...
08:12Mm...
08:13Yeah, two and a half minutes.
08:14Two and a half minutes.
08:15Oh!
08:16What?
08:18Obviously, we're going to have to go to hospital.
08:20Yeah, the ambulance as well.
08:22Normally, the triage don't want you to go in unless they're, like, two minutes apart.
08:25Yeah.
08:26But I think with your history, everything that's happened, this will just take you in.
08:31Ugh!
08:32As Chloe had a stillbirth recently and hasn't felt the baby move for a while, Emma and Abbey decide
08:39to head for hospital.
08:41You know that pain, at the moment, out of ten, zero being no pain, ten being the worst pain
08:45you've ever had, what would you put it at?
08:48A block, a nine.
08:49A nine.
08:50I can bring the truck, erm, and we can get you a bit more comfortable.
08:55I'll be as quick as I can.
08:57I'll, er...
09:00Is everything packed then and ready to go?
09:02Yeah.
09:03Lovely.
09:04Can you pass me more?
09:06Yeah.
09:07OK.
09:08There we go.
09:18Oh!
09:19I don't know what's just come out of me.
09:21Yeah, your waters have just gone.
09:22I have pain.
09:23OK.
09:24Just keep breathing, OK?
09:25Just keep breathing, OK?
09:26Nice deep breaths.
09:28So, waters went at 12.21.
09:33Chloe's waters have broken.
09:35Together with more frequent contractions, this is a sign that her baby will be born soon.
09:45Hello?
09:46Hello.
09:47Our waters have just gone.
09:48OK.
09:49Do you want to stay and pay or just go?
09:51Erm...
09:53Just, can you go bring some conti sheets?
09:56Yep.
09:57When Chloe's waters broke, it was a difficult decision to make whether to stay at home and
10:02deliver the baby or whether to take the patient to hospital.
10:04Erm, how's seeing after your waters breaking with your, erm, previous pregnancy?
10:09Did baby arrive?
10:10He came the next night.
10:11OK.
10:12Do you feel like you want to push?
10:13Yeah.
10:14OK.
10:15It's really hurting me.
10:16OK, OK.
10:17Let's take these down.
10:18Oh!
10:19Take a nice deep breath.
10:20OK.
10:21You OK?
10:22You OK?
10:23You OK?
10:24It's not coming out just yet.
10:25OK?
10:26What?
10:27I'm going to ring another crew.
10:28Yeah.
10:298-3.
10:30Take the gas on air when you need it.
10:328-3, get in.
10:34Yeah, this lady's waters have broken while we've been on scene.
10:38Can we start a second crew running, please?
10:40Oh, she ain't no problem at all.
10:42Oh!
10:43It's OK.
10:44It's OK.
10:45That's it.
10:46You're doing really well.
10:47Getting this sorted now.
10:48This baby's going to come here.
11:05That's it.
11:06That's it.
11:07That's it.
11:08That's it.
11:09That's it.
11:10Keep going.
11:11That's it.
11:12You're doing really well.
11:13You're doing really well.
11:14In West Bromwich, Chloe is in the advanced stages of labour.
11:17Paramedic Emma and technician Abby were planning to head for hospital, but her baby is about
11:23to be born.
11:24OK.
11:25Breathe back through now.
11:26Doing really well.
11:27Breathe through it now.
11:28Right.
11:29Let me have this arm.
11:30Let me know when you're...
11:33That's it.
11:34Keep pushing.
11:35Keep pushing.
11:36Keep pushing.
11:37That's it.
11:38That's it.
11:39That's it.
11:40That's it.
11:41You're doing really well.
11:42Keep going.
11:43That's it.
11:44You're doing really well.
11:45You're doing really well.
11:46Go on.
11:47It's OK.
11:48It's OK.
11:49It's not just ready just yet, OK?
11:51You're doing really well.
11:52You're doing really well.
11:53That's it.
11:54That's it.
11:55Heads out.
11:56Heads out.
11:57Heads out.
11:58Keep going.
11:59OK?
12:00That's it.
12:01That's it.
12:02That's it.
12:03Baby's out.
12:04There you go.
12:05Yay!
12:06Give you a clue.
12:07I'm going to cry first.
12:08That's it.
12:09She's not crying.
12:10She's had a little cry.
12:11She's crying.
12:12She's had a little cry.
12:13That's it.
12:14Lovely.
12:15Well done.
12:16Well done.
12:17That's it.
12:19You want your mum?
12:21That's it.
12:22Yeah.
12:23Hello.
12:24Well done, mum.
12:25Well done.
12:26Right.
12:27Well done.
12:28Let's get you on.
12:29Chest to chest, mum.
12:30All right.
12:31Keep her warm.
12:32OK?
12:33I think going to a bath is one of the best jobs, isn't it?
12:37Especially when it goes well.
12:38Yeah.
12:39I think because we don't get them very often, it's almost like an achievement.
12:43Yeah.
12:44Knowing I've brought a baby into this world.
12:46But you didn't think you were going to be having a baby at home, did you, today?
12:49No.
12:51Just 30 minutes after Emma and Abby arrived, baby Esme Rose is born.
12:56Chloe asks her mum to cut the cord.
12:59Now.
13:00There you go.
13:01There you go.
13:02It's in the middle.
13:03In between those two.
13:04Is that it?
13:05Yeah.
13:06Lovely.
13:07Mum, now that she's cut from you, I'm just going to take her and pop a nappy on, warm
13:14her all up, and then I'll give her straight back to you, OK?
13:16I just want to try and get some observations on her as well.
13:20Is that your baby sister?
13:21What's your name?
13:22What's your name?
13:23What's your name?
13:24What's your name?
13:25What's your name, baby sister?
13:26Yeah, sure.
13:27They should just put a needle in, OK?
13:32So, just in case, we'll give you some fluids, OK?
13:35Look a bit pale at the moment.
13:39Emma and Abby run some checks to make sure mother and baby are OK.
13:44I thought you'd forget how to be a newborn, Mum.
13:47Mm-hmm.
13:48Well, you've done well so far.
13:49You've delivered your baby, so...
13:51Do you want to come and see your little sister?
13:53Come on.
13:54Mummy's OK now.
13:55Like, look.
13:56Mummy's all right.
13:57You're all shy.
14:00Is that your sister?
14:01You've been waiting, aren't you?
14:03Chloe's three-year-old son, Leighton, gets his first introduction to new sister, Esme Rose.
14:12Do you want to come and sit next to her, look?
14:14I'll sit next to her and have a kiss.
14:15Smile.
14:16Are you going to give her a kiss?
14:19Ah!
14:22He's like, no, that's enough.
14:26Right.
14:27Ready?
14:30After the introductions, Emma and Abby head to hospital,
14:34with two patients rather than just one.
14:37Mum, do you want to come sit down on here?
14:39Do you want to come on?
14:40Keep going.
14:42That'll do.
14:43Abby.
14:44Are you happy with that, Mum?
14:46Yeah, yeah.
14:47And then that strap goes over.
14:49Just trying to get it.
14:51Right.
14:52Sharp scratch, little one.
14:56Oh, dear.
14:57Oh!
14:58Not even around that.
14:59Well done.
15:00Before they set off, the final observation is to check baby Esme Rose's blood sugars.
15:06Sugar levels are good, Mum.
15:083.4.
15:093.4.
15:18Do I call your mum or nanny now?
15:21Oh, no, no, no.
15:23Are you ready?
15:24Yeah, I'm ready, ready.
15:25Yeah, I'm ready, ready.
15:29Well, she's definitely enjoying this bottle.
15:31I can't even get it out of her mouth because she's sucking so tight.
15:34Oh, yeah.
15:37For all that, you've drank almost half a bottle.
15:42Give me back.
15:43Give me back.
15:44You don't want any more of this, dear.
15:46You've had enough.
15:47Mum Chloe, baby Esme Rose and nanny arrive at Birmingham City Hospital Maternity Wing.
15:54We're here.
15:55We have reached our destination.
15:58Oh, there we go.
16:00And out we are.
16:03Have Mummy cuddle.
16:05Here they'll be checked over to make sure both mother and baby are healthy after Esme Rose's surprise arrival at home.
16:17What a lovely day.
16:28I know.
16:29Sun shining.
16:30And we had a baby.
16:31Oh, it just puts you in such a good mood.
16:34When you have days like this, it makes you appreciate your job.
16:38Yeah.
16:39It's like positive, everyone's happy.
16:41Bringing somebody into the world.
16:47When I first met you, how many years ago was it?
17:01Yeah, you were going a bit grey.
17:03It was probably...
17:04It was probably 13 years ago, wasn't it?
17:06When we actually first met.
17:07Yeah.
17:08I was going grey then, wasn't I?
17:09And then...
17:10Yeah.
17:11The wife told you she was pregnant.
17:12That's it.
17:13Yeah, overnight.
17:14Yeah, overnight.
17:15I remember you saying that to me.
17:20I said, oh, George, the wife's pregnant.
17:22I remember you turning around saying, congratulations and commiserations.
17:26I'm going slightly grey, but...
17:28Where?
17:29Well, a little bit there.
17:31But nothing like you, Neil.
17:33No, I know.
17:34People can't believe the age difference, can they?
17:36No.
17:37I'll have to get that in.
17:38Ten years.
17:39Ten years between me and Neil.
17:40Ten years, yeah.
17:41That's it.
17:42Not that.
17:43As in, I'm ten years older than Neil.
17:45Neil's ten years younger.
17:47Yeah.
17:48I just had a hard paper round, that was it.
17:50Yeah.
17:51Ambulance service.
17:52Is the patient breathing?
17:53Yeah.
17:54I've got real bad pain in my back.
17:55And I've got kidney disease.
17:56And my urine's all like milk colour.
17:5857-year-old male, lower back pain.
17:59Has kidney disease.
18:00I mean, we, like milk, would suggest possibly infection.
18:01Wow, major infection, isn't it?
18:02Yeah.
18:03Yeah.
18:04There's always concern when, er, someone's we is described as milky cancer.
18:08And I've got a pain in my back.
18:09And I've got kidney disease.
18:10And my urine's all like milk colour.
18:1357-year-old male, lower back pain, has kidney disease.
18:18I mean, we, like milk, would suggest possibly infection.
18:23Wow, major infection, isn't it?
18:24Yeah.
18:25There's always concern when, er, someone's we is described as milky cancer.
18:32It could indicate infection.
18:33And ultimately, that can lead to sepsis, which can be life-threatening.
18:38Is it like pus?
18:39I mean, it sounds real nasty, doesn't it?
18:42Yeah.
18:43So, next rope.
18:45Hiya, mate.
18:46Alright.
18:47Hiya.
18:48My name's Neil.
18:49This is George.
18:50I'm here.
18:51Hiya.
18:52Hiya, mate.
18:53Alright.
18:54Hiya.
18:55My name's Neil.
18:56This is George.
18:57Hiya.
18:58Hiya.
18:59Hiya.
19:00Hiya.
19:01Oh, this is George.
19:02What's your name?
19:03Mark.
19:04Mark.
19:05Okay, Mark.
19:06How come you help me?
19:07What's been going on?
19:08I've got real bad pain in my back.
19:09Yeah.
19:10Let's have a quick few of your pores while we're talking.
19:12Yeah, okay.
19:13And my urine, look at that colour.
19:15It's a bit milky looking, isn't it?
19:17Oh, dear.
19:1857-year-old Mark lives with kidney and heart disease.
19:22But today, the pain has become more than he can bear.
19:27So, your wee's like, obviously, a little bit of a strange colour.
19:31Whereabouts is this pain, then?
19:32Yeah.
19:33Right up here.
19:34So, is it to the side here, or is it in the middle?
19:36Yeah, there.
19:37There.
19:38Okay.
19:39Is there anything like that?
19:40No.
19:41So, right.
19:42This is probably down to, like, an ulcerated leg or something that you've had it removed?
19:46That's why it definitely got infected.
19:48How long ago was that done, then?
19:50About three, three and a half months ago.
19:53All right.
19:54Fairly recent, then.
19:55Yeah, it's not that long.
19:57Okay.
19:58You're diabetic, I take it?
19:59Yeah.
20:00Okay.
20:01Due to complications with his diabetes, Mark had his left leg amputated above the knee.
20:08When I first saw Mark, he looked unwell.
20:11The fact he's got diabetes leaves him at higher risk of lots of things, including kidney problems.
20:18We'll do all the checks that we do again, and then we'll go from there.
20:22Right, sharp scratch.
20:24Right, so let's go and do this.
20:26Neil checks Mark's blood sugar levels.
20:30This is going to be diabolically up.
20:33And that's kind of normal, is it?
20:35No.
20:3626.3.
20:37Ah!
20:38Sugars at 26.3 is particularly high.
20:41Essentially, the body works in balance.
20:43Once that balance is out, including your blood sugars, it can be life-threatening.
20:49Jack Neil told you that's way off the scale.
20:56We're on board with seven paramedic crews as they respond to emergencies across the West Midlands.
21:09So, other than your diabetes, and obviously you've got...
21:15What, COPD?
21:16COPD, yeah.
21:18I've got angina.
21:19I've got a stent in your arm.
21:21Oh, my life.
21:22You've got a bit of everything.
21:23To the south of Birmingham, paramedic Neil and technician George are with retired builder Mark.
21:29He has severe pain in his side and a suspected kidney infection.
21:34Right, just pop this in here, innit?
21:36You know what I mean.
21:3735.8, so a little cold.
21:40Our thinking there would be that you've probably got an infection of some kind.
21:43Right.
21:44But, obviously, anything that looks other than wee coming out of you...
21:49Exactly.
21:50..isn't right, is it?
21:52The fact that Mark had got diabetes as well as other conditions, we were concerned for him.
21:58We need to get to the bottom of why his wee was milky, so he needed to go to hospital.
22:03How do you feel about that, going to hospital?
22:06It's no surprise, is it?
22:08Oh, no.
22:09If you were to give the pain a score out of ten, ten being, like...
22:12About a six.
22:13About a six.
22:14Are you happy if we go with some paracetamol into your vein then, yeah?
22:19Yeah.
22:20Do you know how much you weigh?
22:22I've lost too long to weigh.
22:24Yeah.
22:25I'd say you're going to be below probably eight stone, aren't you?
22:27You know, when I...when I left there, I was half and half stone.
22:33How long has that taken to lose that weight?
22:35About six months.
22:37I think seeing Mark in his bed there, he'd obviously had quite a lot of issues going on, recent issues.
22:43And with losing your leg is obviously a big deal.
22:46And then lots of...and being diabetic, lots of health problems he's got, hasn't he?
22:51Yeah, I think...
22:52It's been quite difficult to deal with.
22:54Yeah.
22:55You still feel like you've got your leg, doesn't it?
22:57That's...you get this phantom leg.
22:58I really get...I really get them.
23:00Yeah.
23:01Electric shock pains coming down your leg.
23:03Yeah.
23:04It's...it's been really strange.
23:06It's been really painful, you know.
23:08Neil gives Mark paracetamol directly into his bloodstream to help ease his pain.
23:14We'll plug you in now.
23:16I think it's a really...reactive lad.
23:20Yeah.
23:21It's just a little setback, that's what you've got to think.
23:24You just need a better place.
23:26You didn't want to leave home.
23:27Huh?
23:28You didn't want to leave home?
23:29No.
23:30Yeah.
23:31But yeah, I need some help when he took care.
23:36After his leg was amputated, Mark moved to more suitable accommodation.
23:41But he's struggling to adjust.
23:44Yeah, we can do what we call a safeguarding through our...
23:47What's that?
23:48...system.
23:49It's basically where we highlight, say, look, Mark's struggling at home.
23:53I know.
23:54Yeah, we'll do that.
23:56Safeguarding is a way of us as an ambulance crew flagging that someone's in need of more
24:04help.
24:05And in Mark's situation, I think he was.
24:08Right, so that's the paracetamol in.
24:10OK.
24:11Right, let's start taking all this off.
24:14Hmm, the shoe fits.
24:17Oh, yeah.
24:18Right, we're all ready to get out of here.
24:22It's all right, keep your arms in, that's it.
24:28Just get your bearings a bit.
24:31Ah!
24:32Ah!
24:33Where's that hurting?
24:35Right across there.
24:37Yeah, maybe lie down and it might...
24:39What's that?
24:40Well, again, it's possible you're an infection.
24:43Right, let's get you covered up because you are still cold.
24:46With Mark safely on the ambulance, he's ready for the journey to hospital.
24:52Yeah.
24:53I lost my mum four weeks ago.
24:55Oh, dear.
24:56Was that sudden?
24:57No, she had dementia, bless her.
24:58Oh, really?
24:59Yeah.
25:00How often do the carers come in to you?
25:01Three times a day, but...
25:02Yeah, you need a bit of help hand along, I think, at the moment.
25:03You're dragging along the bottom, aren't you, as they say?
25:04I am a bit.
25:05After a two-and-a-half-mile journey, Mark arrives at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.
25:10How's that pain?
25:11How's that pain?
25:12What pain?
25:13Oh, my God.
25:14Don't worry, we'll sort you out.
25:15Here, doctors will investigate if an infection could be the source of his back pain.
25:22Right, a couple of bumps here.
25:23계 omertaic chat, isn't it.
25:24He's going about that chap in it, really.
25:26OK.
25:28All right, two out of bumps.
25:29From the short mile journey, Mark arrives at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.
25:33How's that pain?
25:34What pain?
25:35Don't have to go so ready to hit it.
25:37Don't worry, we'll sort you out.
25:38Here, doctors will investigate if an infection could be the source of his back pain.
25:44Right, a couple of bumps here.
25:51Damn about that chap, ain't it, really?
25:52Well, yeah. It's a shock to have your leg taken off, as he say, about four months ago.
25:58Yeah, what can you do? It's a sad story.
26:15Did you press up this morning?
26:17No, I was a bad lad.
26:19Oh.
26:20I did have intentions. I owe myself 50.
26:24We can do them together if you want. Do them in the garage.
26:28I'm not getting sweaty at work, man.
26:32It's funny when you start sweating, right?
26:35It's got to go anywhere where it's a bit warm and that's it.
26:38Minus five outside and I'll start sweating.
26:41It looks like you're having a heart attack.
26:43Yeah, it does, it does.
26:50Ambulance, sir. This is the patient breathing.
26:53Yeah. I'm calling from the care line. We have an 80-year-old lady.
26:57She's fallen over.
26:59Her legs gave way and now they're rigid.
27:02And is there anybody with the patient in the property?
27:04No.
27:08So we have young Susan, 80-year-old, who's fallen.
27:11And according to this, she fell two hours ago, three hours ago.
27:14Fallen legs are rigid, diabetic, AF, gout, patient taking blood thinners.
27:22The fact that she's on blood thinners comes into play
27:24because if she's injured herself and she's got a bleed somewhere,
27:28this is going to make the bleed worse.
27:31All right, darling. So I'm Abdul. I've got young Paul with me.
27:43So what's happened, darling? How come you've ended up on the floor?
27:46I went down one bag of hands.
27:48OK. So have you hurt yourself anywhere as you've come down?
27:52Not as far as I know.
27:54When 80-year-old Susan fell in her bathroom,
27:57she alerted her care company who rang 999.
28:00Daughter Jess is with her.
28:03Any fall, we need to try and figure out why the person has fallen.
28:07Have they dropped in blood pressure?
28:09Have they got an irregular heartbeat? Have they just tripped?
28:12If they can't get back up, that's another concern.
28:15How old are we?
28:16I don't know. You don't know?
28:18I do forget things as well.
28:20It's you and me both.
28:21Your blood pressure's a bit high.
28:23Yeah, I've been in hospital.
28:25They've been cutting all medication down dramatically.
28:28OK, we'll do some checks on you.
28:30Just doing your blood pressure again, darling.
28:32OK.
28:33Yeah, that's fine. Just a bit irregular.
28:35I think what we'll do, we'll slide a little sheet under you,
28:38and then we'll try and slide our inflatable cushion under you.
28:42Yeah? Yeah, sounds good.
28:44Have you been on one of these cushions before, darling?
28:47Not as far as I know.
28:49They just come up gradually.
28:51How are you feeling? OK?
28:53OK, yeah.
28:56Are your feet still on the floor? Because I can't see.
28:59Just about.
29:00Now that Susan is in a sitting position, Paul and Abdul can move her safely onto a chair.
29:05Get in the living room and then we'll see where we go from there.
29:08And sit down. There's no, there's no sides.
29:11All right, come on then, Dom.
29:13Yeah.
29:14Although Susan is now upright, Abdul is concerned about what would happen if she fell again.
29:19I don't think she's safe to be left at home at the moment. So I would recommend her if she goes in.
29:25We didn't see how she'd fell. She could have potentially banged her head or injured herself somewhere.
29:30So it would be irresponsible for us to leave us there. So she was best off being checked off at hospital.
29:38You said it was your leg felt weak.
29:40Yeah.
29:41That's why you...
29:42Those legs were feeling really constricted.
29:44They're both freezing.
29:49You said it fell about 6.30.
29:52Yeah. And I've got a missed call from you.
29:54Right.
29:55What time was the missed call?
29:56At 1.45.
29:571.45.
29:58OK.
29:59Do you think it's more like 1.45?
30:01It could be.
30:02Yeah?
30:03Daughter Jess is getting increasingly concerned about her mum's confusion.
30:08How long have you been having problems with your memory, Dom?
30:12Do you want me to be honest?
30:16Yeah.
30:17Are you happy for me to say?
30:18Yeah.
30:19Right, so since she had this stroke last summer...
30:21Yeah.
30:22..not being quite right.
30:23Right.
30:24Fair enough.
30:25OK.
30:26Susan's daughter was quite concerned about her mum, which she would be.
30:29When people have a fall, it does knock their confidence,
30:31and they're less likely to walk about because they're scared of having another fall,
30:35and can lead to other issues.
30:37A couple of bumps, darling, as we go in.
30:42OK.
30:43Very good.
30:44Right, I'll get some stuff back on you, darling, and then we'll head off again.
30:53Have you only got the two kids?
30:55Three.
30:56Three?
30:57One in Scotland.
30:58Susan arrives at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton.
31:02You got that?
31:03Yeah.
31:04Wonderful.
31:05Here she'll be seen by doctors and the frailty team.
31:09They'll investigate what caused her to fall, and what more can be done to help Susan live independently
31:16at home.
31:17It's one of the most demanding, stressful, and rewarding jobs.
31:32Is the bleeding getting worse, staying the same, or starting to slow down a bit?
31:36Where are you hurting? Is it your arm?
31:38Answering calls from people having their worst day is never easy.
31:42I do take it home, and I have to just relay how I'm feeling.
31:47There's always going to be a few people who you think what happened, or I hope they were okay.
31:55Ambulance service, is the patient breathing?
31:57Yes, she is.
31:58Is the patient conscious and away?
32:00She's basically had a seizure, and I've never known her to experience one before,
32:06and she's never mentioned having a seizure before.
32:09Is she fully recovered from the seizure?
32:11She's not fitting anymore, but she's not with it.
32:15I literally went out the room for, like, two minutes, and by the time I came back in, she was fitting.
32:20Right, okay.
32:21That helps me in a range.
32:23It is between life or death.
32:24Seizures can turn into cardiac arrest.
32:26A lot of people aren't aware of that, but it does happen, so they're definitely important jobs to get to.
32:32What I need you to do is just move any objects out of the way to protect her head so she doesn't hurt herself, okay?
32:38I know that she's not fitting anymore, but just in case she goes into another seizure, just make sure that the room's clear, okay?
32:44Yeah, that's fine.
32:45Don't try and move her if she starts fitting again, and don't try and open her mouth or put anything in it, okay?
32:50Okay.
32:51Are you able to roll her onto her side for me?
32:53She already is.
32:54It's really hard to advise a caller when they can see someone they know having a seizure,
33:01because it's scary.
33:03But I think it's just best to make them aware you know what you're doing and you know what you're talking about,
33:08and you're going to be there to support them until the crew are there and they can take over.
33:12Just keep checking her breathing for me until we get there.
33:15I'm going to stay on the line with you until we get into the building just to make sure that the crew find her okay?
33:20Okay, that's fine.
33:21Has someone gone out to meet us?
33:23Yeah, I've sent someone outside.
33:25Lovely, thank you.
33:26Right.
33:27As the crew arrive, the caller hangs up.
33:30Hello, operator, did they clear?
33:32Yeah.
33:33When the line dropped, I could see that the crew had arrived, so I didn't have any more concerns.
33:39Thank you, panel.
33:40What's the temperature at the moment?
33:54Eight.
33:55Eight degrees?
33:56Oh.
33:57You can tell how cold it is, though.
34:0026 in Mallorca, kid.
34:01Nice.
34:02I don't know, in the last day or two days, I'll be crying because I don't want to go home.
34:07Yeah, you'll come home and you'll have to get your hoodie out before you come out the airport, because you'll be so cold.
34:13I can't have any more now until after my wedding.
34:17My next holiday is going to be my honeymoon, which will be in the Maldives, so quite excited about that one.
34:22Where's your favourite place?
34:24Anyway, it's sunny, really.
34:26Just get some sun on there.
34:27Sun and a beer.
34:28You look all about yourself today, or somebody else?
34:31No, it's my daughter.
34:32She just keeps choking on her own, like, sleds.
34:33She's got that much of it.
34:34And she's like, she's looking to breathe.
34:35Is she fighting desperately for every breath?
34:36Yeah, in a minute, yeah.
34:37It's just scared me.
34:56Right, mate, we've got a female...
34:57A female, 14 months old, little bubba.
35:01She's choking on phlegm and breathing problems.
35:05When my daughter first started nursery as a baby, I think for several months she ended up with coughs, colds.
35:14We go to a lot of babies with respiratory problems.
35:18It's always worrying because they can't tell you what's wrong.
35:22It can be scary going to children.
35:24They can be really hard to diagnose.
35:26It's going to be this one, I think, isn't it?
35:36With the lois on.
35:43Hello.
35:44In Brumsgrove, paramedic Sarah and technician Gav have been called to a baby who's struggling to breathe.
35:52Must be Nellie.
35:53Aww.
35:54What's been happening by?
35:55Basically, for the past six days she's been poorly with, like, a cold.
36:00And then we took her to the doctors yesterday.
36:04Yes, I could be.
36:05Because, well, this one has not to see if her chest affects you and her ear affects you.
36:10Aww.
36:11But she keeps, like, choking on phlegm, like, to the point where you have to smack her back because she can't breathe.
36:15Aww, bless her.
36:17When 14-month-old Nellie wasn't responding to her antibiotic medication, Mum Amy and Dad Brian rang for help.
36:26If you want to sit down, Mum, you sit down with her and we'll do some checks.
36:30You can hear it.
36:31Just all the...
36:32Yeah, the phlegm and...
36:34Oh, bless her.
36:35Can I put this on your toe?
36:39Oh, you're so good.
36:40She can't swallow it.
36:42Yeah.
36:43Unfortunately, babies, especially of this age, they're very nasal breathers.
36:48Yeah.
36:49So the minute the nose is blocked, it's hard to kind of do both.
36:53And I think when we first walked in and saw Nellie, she was just...
36:56She was quite lethargic, weren't she?
36:58Yeah, you could tell she wasn't very well.
37:00She looked quite pale.
37:01So her breathing rate's a little bit fast.
37:03You can see she's obviously working harder with her breathing.
37:06Her oxygen levels are a little bit low.
37:09Can I pop this in your ear?
37:11I think it's seven through.
37:14Oh, that's not too bad.
37:16Can I have a little listen? Is that OK?
37:22I think we'll go with a 2.5 salbutamol, please, Gav,
37:26because she has got a wheeze.
37:28We noticed that she got a wheeze when I listened to her chest
37:31and her oxygen levels were a little bit low.
37:33We decided to give her a nebuliser.
37:36This will hopefully open her airway up a little bit
37:38and make it a bit easier for her to breathe.
37:41If we can just pop that just by her face, Mum,
37:44just to get some of the steam in,
37:46and hopefully that will kind of loosen the chest a little bit.
37:48Yeah.
37:51So I think you've won a trip to Worcester.
37:54Nellie was 14 months old.
37:56Under Wands we take to hospital anyway,
37:59but we felt that she actually needed some treatment
38:03that we couldn't offer her,
38:04and she needed to see a doctor.
38:11Mum, Amy, goes with Nellie
38:13while Dad, Brian, will make his own way to the hospital.
38:18Sorry, darling.
38:19She is wheezy, bless her.
38:24I'm going to...
38:25Oh, do you want to hold?
38:26You all right holding that, Mum?
38:27Is that OK?
38:28They never like it on the face.
38:30The minute you put it over, they pull it off.
38:35With Mum's reassurance,
38:37baby Nellie starts tolerating the nebuliser.
38:42I'm ready, Gav.
38:43OK, yeah.
38:44Yeah, yeah.
38:49Her breathing seems to have settled quite a bit now.
38:52Yeah, right.
38:53She doesn't seem to be breathing as fast.
38:55She seems more about to now.
38:57Yeah.
38:59So heart rate's OK,
39:01your oxygen levels are OK.
39:08Nellie and Mum, Amy, arrive at Worcestershire Royal Hospital,
39:13and Dad, Brian, is here to meet them.
39:17Just be careful, mate.
39:18Just be careful on there.
39:20Here, Nellie will be seen by the paediatric team
39:23to work out why she's not responding to the antibiotics.
39:26If you had to pick, would you rather be too hot or too cold?
39:45Too cold.
39:46Too cold?
39:47I would rather be too cold.
39:48I love being cold when you can, like, get him to bed.
39:51Electric blankets.
39:52Snuggling.
39:53Lots of layers.
39:54I think being too hot, you just can't strip.
39:57You can only strip off enough, can't you?
39:59Yeah, you can't take your skin off, can you?
40:01And you just sweat a lot and smell, and it's horrible.
40:05Whereas if you're too cold...
40:06You can wrap up.
40:07You can wrap up.
40:08Snuggles.
40:09Nice blanket.
40:10Love it.
40:17Ambulance services, the patient breathing?
40:19Yes.
40:20Are they conscious and awake?
40:21Yes.
40:22What's the reason for the call that's happened?
40:23What it is, um, he has heart problems,
40:26but he's got CIP dead, but he's struggling to breathe.
40:3161-year-old male, fighter for breath.
40:42Has a history of COPD.
40:44Patient has a pacemaker fitted.
40:46There was a lot going on in my head on the way to this job.
40:49We were trying to figure out what was going on with the patient
40:52as they had quite an extensive medical history.
40:55Hello, all right.
41:09Hello, sweetheart, my name's Courtney,
41:12and Parker's just following me in.
41:14What's happening today?
41:16The breathing's getting worse.
41:17The breathing's getting worse.
41:19I'm on three.
41:20Feel red hot.
41:21No, I'm cold.
41:22I am cold.
41:2361-year-old Steve is at his daughter Cheryl's house.
41:26When her dad began struggling for every breath,
41:29she called 999.
41:31Can we get your dressing gown off?
41:33Is that OK?
41:34No.
41:35We need two, sweetheart.
41:36If you haven't got a temperature,
41:38we'll let you put them back on after our checks.
41:40How does that sound?
41:41That's it.
41:42How long have you been struggling with your breathing?
41:45It started last night when I finished work.
41:48OK.
41:49When I was standing next to a girl who got a cold at work.
41:5139.8.
41:54With a high temperature and the shivers,
41:57everything is pointing to Steve having an infection.
42:00You are absolutely roasting.
42:03So, unfortunately, you're not allowed those back,
42:08the dressing gowns.
42:10What conditions do you have?
42:12With asthma and COPD, Steve's lungs are weaker and more vulnerable to viruses.
42:23Can I listen to your chest? Is that all right?
42:25So, I can't hear a wheeze or anything at the moment.
42:31But you have got quite a lot of crackles going on,
42:34whether you've got a bit of a chest infection.
42:36Have you got any pain anywhere at all?
42:38Yeah, jaw shaking.
42:39All over.
42:40Yeah.
42:41Are you coughing at all?
42:42Yeah.
42:43A little bit, yeah.
42:44But I do.
42:45Can I pop these stickers on your chest?
42:46Both up and out.
42:47I'm freezing.
42:48So, your body is telling you it's cold,
42:51because the sweat is evaporating off your skin,
42:54which is making you sort of shiver and telling you that you're cold.
42:58But, in fact, you're actually cooking yourself.
43:02I'm going to just have a look at the other heart tracing for me, if you can.
43:05Yes.
43:07So, at the moment, all your checks are sort of within parameters.
43:13OK.
43:14I've had a listen to your chest.
43:15I've got quite a lot of crackles at the bottom of your lungs, OK?
43:18So, you probably have got a bit of a chest infection.
43:21So, we don't carry antibiotics.
43:24So, it's entirely up to you whether it's going to be a trip up to the hospital.
43:27No, I'll just go and get some antibiotics tomorrow.
43:30Lovely.
43:31Nobody likes going to hospital.
43:33In Steve's case, it wasn't necessary.
43:35It would be better for him to get antibiotics prescribed
43:37so he could stay at home.
43:39Do these windows open?
43:41Don't...don't you give me that stare.
43:45I know.
43:47And look what you've done. You've cooked yourself.
43:50Am I able to open them?
43:51You're sweating. We'll all be sweating.
43:54It's like I'm in a sauna.
43:56Steve was hot stuff, wasn't he?
43:58He was hot stuff.
43:59He had the radiator on.
44:01The windows were shut.
44:03He had multiple blankets on,
44:05and that's not good when you've got an infection already
44:08because he can start to feel worse the higher his temperature goes.
44:11Right.
44:12Anybody have any questions before we go?
44:14No.
44:15No.
44:16We'll fill that back up.
44:17OK?
44:18Yeah.
44:19Because it needs to increase your fluid.
44:20Nice and cold.
44:21If you've got any ice, put some ice in.
44:23With advice to get antibiotics for his chest infection,
44:27Courtney and Parker can leave Steve at home.
44:30Right, sweetheart, you take care.
44:33OK.
44:34Don't be careful.
44:35Yeah.
44:36Right, look after yourself.
44:41Ooh.
44:54Nelly, who was struggling to breathe,
44:56was diagnosed with a viral infection.
44:58As antibiotics can't treat this,
45:01she had to stay in hospital for three days.
45:05Susan, who fell at home, had a number of tests,
45:08but no reason for her fall was found.
45:11She spent two weeks in hospital receiving physiotherapy
45:14before being discharged to her care home.
45:18Mark was found to have a urinary tract infection.
45:21In hospital, he was put on a course of antibiotics
45:24and four days later returned home.
45:27And Chloe and baby Esme Rose
45:29were examined by the maternity team.
45:32Both were fine.
45:33For Abby and Emma,
45:35it was definitely a shift to remember.
45:40Next time,
45:41a woman is in agony after a fall.
45:45It was quite concerning
45:48that she couldn't remember how she fell,
45:50where she fell, what she'd hurt.
45:52Why can't she remember?
45:54A patient is struggling to breathe.
45:56Oh, please help me, lad.
45:58It's extremely scary.
45:59No matter what anyone says to you,
46:01just breathe.
46:02Sounds so simple,
46:03but in those moments, it's not.
46:05And a man needing urgent medical help
46:07is trapped behind his front door.
46:09Yeah, that's blood.
46:10He's come down the stairs.
46:11If your blood sugar's dropped too low,
46:13your heart can potentially stop.
46:15You can have a cardiac arrest.
46:16Have a cardiac arrest.
46:46He does not see the sky.
46:47No doubt.
46:48See,
46:49even though that part is past
46:54people say anything,
46:55among the ones away.
46:56They get the most payroll in garland.
46:57They say no gehe or something,
46:58they just be pom by the brig.
47:03And not again.
47:05You see,
47:06the expert Christ,
47:07there's a very special asphalt.