The BEST episodes of 24 Hours in A&E season 12
Every episode of 24 Hours in A&E season 12, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of 24 Hours in A&E season 12!
We're all just one wrong step, one sudden illness or one unlucky break away from A&E. It's a place where dramatic stories of love, life and death unfold every day. With 90 cameras filming round the clock for 7 weeks, this series offers unprecedented access to one of Britain's busiest A&E departments, at St George's Hospital in London. Each programme focuses on patients who were treated within the same 24-hour period. The series captures the joy and heartache faced by patients and their families, as well as the hard work and professionalism of the A&E staff. From life-threatening traumas to embarrassing mishaps, 24 Hours in A&E is an intimate, powerful and sometimes comic insight into life - and death - on the frontline of the NHS.
#1 - Candle in the Wind
Season 12 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/10/2017
This episode focuses on some of the youngest patients who visit A&E and the staff who care for them. Eight-year-old Billy is rushed to St George's after being crushed by falling bricks that were being stored on his front drive. His dad Shaun recounts the horror of finding out about the accident: 'I was in the back garden... I heard a scream and I wasn't too sure if it was Billy, when I ran out there it was just horrible, absolutely horrible.' An X-ray reveals that Billy has fractured his femur and he faces emergency surgery to give him the best chance of walking normally again. Six-year-old Luther has a metal washer stuck on his finger.
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#2 - In Sickness and in Health
Season 12 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/3/2017
This episode focuses on the bond between married couples in the face of testing circumstances. Corey, who's 27, is rushed to St George's after suffering a cardiac arrest during a game of ice hockey. His wife of seven days, Alice, was watching him play when he collapsed. As Corey arrives in Resus, the medical team learn that his brain has been deprived of oxygen for over 25 minutes and doctors put him in an induced coma to prevent further damage to his brain and major organs. Nurse Liz talks about the difficulty in predicting the long term outcome of cases like Corey's: 'until the patient has woken up, you've got no idea how this has affected them, how badly brain damaged they've got, how they are going to function.' John, who's 55, fell 10 feet while taking down scaffolding at home.
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#3 - You Raise Me Up
Season 12 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/10/2017
This episode focuses on how love can pull you through the hardest of times. Michelle, who's 54, is airlifted to St George's after being involved in a car crash with her husband Paul in Surrey. She was given a blood transfusion at the scene and doctors work quickly to get her to CT to ascertain the full extent of her injuries. Her daughter Toni talks about when her mum was diagnosed with depression, anxiety and split personality disorder and how her dad gave up work to become Michelle's full-time carer. Derren, who's 41, has fractured his ankle while trampolining with his 12-year-old daughter Macie. Doctors are concerned that the injury may have affected the blood supply to his foot and need to work quickly to realign his ankle.
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#4 - Time of your Life
Season 12 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/7/2016
This episode focuses on the bond between families and what holds them together through thick and thin. John, who's 84, is rushed to St George's after losing control of his car and crashing into a road sign. He bullseyed his windscreen, and when his blood pressure drops dangerously low doctors declare a Code Red, giving him an emergency blood transfusion. As doctors discover that John has a broken pelvis and will need emergency surgery, his wife Gwynaeth talks about how she's leaned on John over their years of marriage: 'I don't think I know anyone else who I could rely on who could get me over the humps.' Reggie, who's seven, has broken his arm while doing a cartwheel to celebrate England beating Wales at Euro 2016.
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#5 - Face Value
Season 12 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/21/2016
Seventy-year-old George is rushed to A&E with driftwood stuck in his left eye. He was bailing out rainwater from his boat moored on the Thames when he fell and impaled his eye on a piece of driftwood. His partner Irene rushed to the scene to find paramedics attempting to stem the flow of blood from George's eye. She says: 'I nearly fainted a couple of times, it was like something out of a horror movie.' Doctors become increasingly concerned about whether George could lose sight in the eye. Debby, who's 59, has cut her hand in her lawnmower while removing some grass cuttings, after becoming distracted by thinking about her son's upcoming wedding: 'whether my pink hat matched the rest of my pink outfit, whether pink was right anyhow, there's so much to think about.'
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#6 - Carpe Diem
Season 12 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/7/2017
Niki, who's 34, is airlifted to St George's after crashing into another rider during a charity bike ride between London and Brighton. Race volunteers found him unconscious and unresponsive. It becomes obvious that Niki's memory has been affected by the impact as he struggles to recall details of the crash. Meanwhile, St George's staff try to contact Niki's wife Phil, who is almost 300 miles away at their home in the north east of England.
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#7 - Flesh and Blood
Season 12 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/21/2017
This episode focuses on the ups and downs of family life and how people pull together to get through them. Pam, who's 53, is rushed to A&E after suffering a suspected heart attack. As doctors try to establish whether it definitely was a heart attack or another underlying condition, Pam's daughter Meg talks about how her bond with her mum has strengthened over the years and how she helped her mum when she and Meg's dad decided to get divorced. Ten-year-old Cora is rushed to St George's after being thrown from a horse into the low hanging branches of a tree. Her mother Sharon rushed to the scene and says 'she had blood all over her face... and... this piece of wood sticking out just under her eye.' Doctors work quickly to assess whether or not she has also injured her neck, spine or brain.
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#8 - You've Got a Friend in Me
Season 12 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/28/2016
This episode meets three different sets of friends who have been there for each other through thick and thin. Sixty-year-old bricklayer Phil is rushed to A&E in a critical condition after falling just two feet off a ladder at work and suffering multiple injuries. Initial results show Phil has fractured his spine, wrist and ribs, and doctors need to CT scan him urgently to check for internal injuries. Phil's friend and business partner Paul talks about the highs of their 28-year friendship and also about when Phil confided in him about how he'd dealt with the death of his son before they met.
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#9 - Stand By Your Man
Season 12 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/27/2017
This episode focuses on the highs and lows of relationships and the power of family ties to endure against the odds. Long-distance lorry driver Neil, who's 52, has fallen backwards off a ramp onto a concrete floor. His family is 200 miles away in Middlesbrough and unaware of his accident. While Neil is sent for an urgent CT scan, his ex-wife Heather describes how, after 20 years together and two wonderful children, she and Neil began to drift apart and eventually separated. Nevertheless, she admits that she'll always be there for him. The CT scan shows that Neil has not sustained any serious injuries from his fall but, unexpectedly, it reveals a large tumour on his brain.
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#10 - Catch Me If I Fall
Season 12 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/14/2017
Valerie, who's 63, is rushed to St George's after falling from a horse. Consultant Will is concerned about potential spinal and head injuries, and she's whisked off for an emergency CT scan. Valerie's daughter Vikki talks about how, with no father around and no brothers or sisters, her mum's been the one person who taught her about life: 'mum and dad rolled into one,' and her fears about losing her. Lisa, who's 66, may have damage to her prosthetic hip. Her husband Tony found her lying on the kitchen floor. Doctors send her for X-rays to find out if she'll need emergency surgery. Lisa reveals that she struggled with anxiety and agoraphobia as a young girl and how she spent a year and half in her bedroom.
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#11 - Sweethearts
Season 12 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/13/2017
This episode focuses on couples whose loving relationships are tested by distance and unexpected illness. Forty-year-old Adrian is escalated from majors to Resus after crashing his bike into a car. Adrian recently moved back to London to set up a new life for his family, but at the time of the accident his wife Lili and daughter Luna are 1400 miles away in Montenegro. Consultant Melissa is concerned that Adrian may have a serious chest injury, so he's sent for a full CT scan. As concern grows that Adrian has a collapsed lung and may need emergency surgery, he makes a heartfelt phone call to Lili.
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#12 - Time's Arrow
Season 12 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/14/2016
Nicky, who's 61, is airlifted to St George's by helicopter after a car mounted the pavement at 30mph and ran her over while she was out walking. Doctors quickly get her into the CT scanner to ascertain the full extent of her injuries. Her husband Richard tries hard to reassure and calm everyone, while their daughter Annie struggles to come to terms with her mother's accident. Meanwhile, 91-year-old Sam arrives in Resus after a suspected stoke. He's accompanied by his doting wife Roshan. And baby Teddy has fallen out of his car seat face-first onto concrete.
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#13 - Dear Heart
Season 12 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/23/2016
Mark, who's 52, is rushed to St George's by air after a road traffic collision threw him from his motorbike and left him suffering a cardiac arrest. His wife Jacquie reveals how their relationship slowly blossomed from friendship into romance. Meanwhile, receptionist Melissa, who works alongside friends and family at St George's, is having trouble hearing.
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#14 - Flying Solo
Season 12 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/24/2017
Aaron, who's 31, is rushed to St George's after overturning his car onto metal railings during a high-speed collision. He has a serious laceration to his face where a spiked railing narrowly missed his eye socket. It becomes apparent that Aaron's memory has been affected; doctors suspect a brain injury and take him to CT. As Aaron undergoes tests, his twin brother Alvin talks about his hopes for Aaron's future. Fiona, who's 65, is rushed to St George's after falling over in a restaurant and cutting her knee during her friend Evelyn's 70th birthday party. Doctors are concerned that Fiona may have damaged a major artery.
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#15 - Boys Will Be Boys
Season 12 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/3/2017
This episode focuses on three male patients who are at different stages when it comes to growing up and taking responsibility for their actions. Thirty-year-old Chris has sustained a potentially life-threatening wound in a shooting. It happened during a game with his friend Jack, who fired the inside shaft of a biro pen, from an air rifle, deep into Chris's abdomen. Meanwhile, college student Lennon has injured his head after jumping into a door frame while kicking a balloon.
#16 - Made of Steel
Season 12 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/17/2017
This episode focuses on the family bonds that carry people through tough times. Mohammed, who's 64, has been hit by a pizza delivery motorbike. Consultant Will is concerned that he may have a pelvic fracture, which could seriously affect his mobility and, if it hits a major artery, can be life threatening. His son Tom reflects: 'When you are younger you think your dad is superhuman. When this happens, you realise he isn't invincible...' Ninety-year-old John comes to St George's with his wife Iris and daughter Joan after his GP picked up on his abnormally low heart rate.
#17 - Never Say Die
Season 12 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/30/2016
Eighty-year-old Frances is rushed to St George's by air ambulance after falling three metres into her empty swimming pool while gardening. Consultant Rathan is concerned that a significant head wound may conceal a potentially life-changing bleed on her brain. Frances's son Clive talks about how she's fiercely independent, continuing to mow the large lawn on her tractor and even re-felting the garden shed roof. With her independence at risk, the medical team work quickly to identify France's injuries. Jerry, who's 20, starts to question partying until 5am on a weeknight, after ending up in A&E.
#18 - The Tree of Life
Season 12 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/31/2017
This episode focuses on the precious relationships between family and friends that pull people through difficult times. Neil, who's 84, has fallen down the stairs at home. His wife Jenny reflects on the shock of realising that their life may never be the same again. Doctors become increasingly worried about damage to Neil's shoulder and an underlying heart condition. Meanwhile, his daughter Jane reveals how Neil carved out a long career as one of London's leading tree officers, and how proud she feels when she sees the trees he's saved and the legacy he's left for London. Danny, who's 25, has been knocked off his motorbike. Orthopaedic registrar Sadia is concerned about a serious leg fracture and that Danny may have other hidden internal injuries.
#19 - Against All Odds
Season 12 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/20/2017
This episode explores the unexpected things in life that make us value the people we love. Twenty-year-old Antonio is rushed to A&E after a motorcycle accident. He has a severe fracture to his leg and the medical team are concerned about a potential arterial bleed. As Antonio goes for a CT scan, his mother Dawn explains how he was hyperactive as a child and struggled at school, with teachers unable to cope with his behaviour. But as he's grown up, motorbikes have captured his attention and given him focus. Forty-year-old Karen has fallen off her horse, which then trampled on her.
#20 - Someone To Watch Over Me
Season 12 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/16/2016
Mel, 71, is rushed to St George's after being accidentally knocked down and run over by her husband John. Mel's blood pressure drops critically low and doctors call a 'Code Red' putting her on standby for an emergency blood transfusion. Maddi, who's four and was born with the bones in her neck fused together, has fallen and injured her neck on a train.
#21 - Safe From Harm
Season 12 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/28/2017
In this episode staff and patients talk about the importance of family support when dealing with difficult circumstances. Fifty-one-year-old painter and decorator Gary is rushed to St George's after falling ten feet from a ladder. As Dr Rob sends Gary for urgent CT scans, Gary's dad Don talks about Gary's bad luck in love after two engagements were broken off: 'it broke his heart and he's never been with anyone since'. Gary's best friend and colleague John reflects on the importance of their friendship: 'he's a member of the family, he's seen my daughter born... never misses out on anybody's birthday.' But when Gary's scans arrive, Dr Rob becomes increasingly concerned about fractures in his back, pelvis and coccyx.