Breathtaking

'First of all, let's be in no doubt,

'this has been a sad, sad day. 563 more cases, a record.'

'Doctors and healthcare staff are saying that

'a shortage of kit and a lack of clarity over what should be worn,

'when and where,

'could potentially cost them their lives.

'One trust said to me today that they've only got

'three swabs per day to test staff.'

'There are stories from the frontline of doctors

'living in mobile homes at the moment.

'They don't want to infect their families.'

'You've got deaths rising in a straight line.

'We've had a big leap in cases.'

Our thoughts go out to the families of the victims,

but let's be in no doubt that

if we can follow the programme that we're currently set upon,

then I've absolutely no doubt that we will begin to start to

push those numbers down,

and we'll turn the tide of the coronavirus.

OK, bank staff, agencies?

No-one at all?

'I've tried them all, and they're all full.

What about DJC locums?

'The issue of staff absence is huge.

'You know, staff themselves really want to get back to the frontline.'

No. God, no, it's fine. You just take it easy.

That sounds really...

'Look, I'm really sorry, Abbey.

'I still can't even get a test.' Yeah.

'Lots of hospitals are reporting unease

'that they may run out of oxygen, sedatives, anaesthetic.

'What system do you have in place?'

Yeah, but can Anj swing over to cover for me?

'Anj is down too. I only just heard myself.'

Oh, shit.

So we can't cover the ward SHO bleep.

Firm A is down.

Half of Firm B is urology F1s.

And Firm C is basically just Sunil and Grace, so...

Hi, it's Abbey. Yeah, so basically just totally failed on that one.

All the staffing banks are empty.

Hi. Morning.

Hey. Hiya.

Thank God, you're back. Are you OK?

No, I'm shattered. I mean, it's not nothing.

No.

Staffing told me about the current shit-show.

I know. Half of the hospital is off sick or isolating.

You'll be lucky if you get an orthopod as an SHO today.

Save us.

Hi, Emma. Hiya.

Ant, how are you feeling?

Yeah, not bad, thanks.

So...

we had three deaths overnight,

bed four's in their last hours

and ITU are on their way to review 12 and 16,

but the pit's rammed, so...

Right. Yeah.

How's Divina?

Not great.

Emma, look, I...

I don't know if anyone is thanking you for volunteering,

but it really is wonderful.

Everyone in my year has. BLEEPING

I need some help in here, she's unresponsive. Coming.

Cardiac arrest, call, please. Emma, could you get the PPE trolley?

Get the defib, please.

Danielle Evans, 43, COVID day ten, Type 2 Diabetes.

She was stable on six litres, but in the past half an hour

she's needed more and now she's just crashed.

She's arresting. Compressions, please.

No, no, no, we need Level 3 PPE.

Why is there no supply by the beds? We don't have enough kit.

Where's that PPE, Emma? PPE's here.

Does this patient have an active DNAR?

No, she's for resus.

I've just had it. I could get on with compressions.

No, that's not allowed. They're aerosol-generating.

Get the pads on. Thank you.

We're running out of time.

I'll help you with that. Yep.

Connecting electrodes.

Ready? Yep.

Non-shockable rhythm.

We need to start CPR. We're wasting time here.

Ant, stop it!

Emma, curtain, please.

Nearly there, Ant? Yeah, seconds away.

No, Emma, outside. Droplets.

Get the EMI bag, please. Yep. Get ready.

OK, start compressions.

We've wasted too much time.

MACHINE BLEEPING

Are you OK?

Yeah.

Right, are you OK to call the next of kin.

Just let me know if there's any problems or if you need anything.

Thanks, Maddie.

Right... Shall we go round?

Yeah.

I think we should start with Mr Williams.

He had a bit of a rough night.

He's on the high flow now, but sats are still low.

Thank you.

Hello, Mr Williams.

LABOURED BREATHING

Emma's just going to quickly present your story.

She's keeping us all up to speed.

OK, this is Mr Williams, 81.

WHEEZING

I met Mr... Archie in the cupboard in EAU.

That bloody cupboard.

He had flash pulmonary oedema, went to resus,

and since then has been doing amazingly well, really.

But then seven days ago, tested positive for COVID,

and has sadly...

deteriorated since then.

He's got his wife Florence at home.

She's not allowed here, obviously.

Thanks, Emma.

She did well, didn't she?

Archie,

I think we need to talk about doing a bit more for your breathing.

I'm afraid catching COVID's really knocked you for six.

Your lungs are struggling a bit and you're getting tired,

so I want to give you a form of breathing support called CPAP.

What we do is we put a mask on your face that's strapped quite tightly.

Then the CPAP machine pushes air into your lungs for you.

Will it hurt?

I'm afraid it can feel quite aggressive,

quite claustrophobic, yes.

And if I don't?

Archie, I want to be completely honest with you.

Without CPAP...

...I'm not sure you can survive this.

COUGHING IN BACKGROUND

I love my life...

...but not at all costs.

Emma, can you get my photos?

OK. Of course. The code is...

It's 4th of April.

Wedding day.

I've had a blessed life

with Florence.

We met...

...in an orchestra.

I was a second violin.

She was...

...a cell... cellist.

Archie?

Shall we try this?

And if it's too much, then we'll talk about what we're going to do.

Yeah?

LABOURED BREATHING

Emma, how do you feel about phoning Mr Williams' wife?

You know him.

You could talk her through what's going on.

Er... yeah. Sure.

OK?

OK.

Good.

Moisturise you hand.

There we go.

All right, my darling.

Shall we get your cross out?

Is that any better, Divina, my love?

Hello, Mr Williams. How are you doing?

WHEEZING

I've got something for you.

We sent one of these to Florence too.

You have a matching one.

You're all right.

Hey, Mr Williams.

I've got the mask here that we spoke about earlier.

I'm just gonna change that round for you now.

There we go. Take this one off for you.

Well done. There you go. Straight on.

You let me know if that's too tight, OK?

There we are. How does that feel?

You're doing great, Mr Williams.

You OK?

Just hold your heart and think of Florence.

So, this might feel a bit of a powerful blast,

but it will stabilise, OK?

You'll get used to it.

A bit like having your head out of a car window on the motorway.

LABOURED BREATHING

You're doing really well. How does that feel?

Good?

Hi, Sally. Did you want to have a chat?

Is that gonna happen to me?

No. No.

You're doing well.

Yes, you have COVID.

But your sats are holding.

Is that good?

I'm confident.

Well, I'm glad someone is.

I thought it would be breast cancer that killed me,