Hospital

Editorial

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Documentaries

Factual: Health & Wellbeing

The story of the NHS in unprecedented times.

Series 6

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

Jackie Waldock

Simon Dickson

Lorraine Charker-Phillips

Emma Whitehead

Mark Rossiter

Label1 Television Ltd

Hospital: Series 6: Episode 5

Episode 5

BBC Two - Hospital, Series 6, Episode 5Search BBC

A look at the cutting-edge treatments being used to fight Covid-19.

Covid-19 patients are again being transferred to intensive care, but clinicians now have a wider array of treatments used to fight the virus, including experimental drugs and convalescent plasma.

Barnet Hospital, the second largest hospital in the Royal Free Trust, was hit hard by the first wave of coronavirus. The vast majority of their capacity was taken up by Covid-positive patients during the peak of the first wave. Over the summer, the number and severity of Covid cases abated, but as coronavirus patients again begin to be transferred to intensive care, staff have to face the reality that the second wave might be as traumatic as the first.

This time, the clinicians have more treatments in their arsenal to fight the virus. A plethora of experimental drugs are available for patients as part of nationwide trials. Intensive care patient Mr Tang, 72, a London bus driver for 17 years, is struggling to breathe. Professor Hasan Tahir is keen to give him a trial drug in the hope that it will improve his lung function.

Another patient eligible for a cutting-edge trial is mother of two Greta. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in the middle of lockdown, and chemotherapy has weakened her immune system, leaving her vulnerable to the virus. The trials team need to help her recover from Covid-19 quickly in order that she can have a life-saving mastectomy. Greta is offered hope when she is randomly selected to receive 'convalescent plasma' – antibody-rich plasma that is harvested from the blood of those who have already battled the virus. 

It is unknown whether these treatments will have a positive impact, but the hope is that as the second wave of the pandemic engulfs the UK, the Trust is better equipped to fight back.

Hospital: Series 6

BBC Two

BBC Two is a TV channel that started broadcasting on the 20th April 1964.

BBC 2

BBC2

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

The award-winning Hospital returns to document the human stories behind the headlines.

The award-winning series documents the human stories behind the headlines as the NHS grapples with the extraordinary challenge of operating within the new Covid-19 landscape.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Hospital

Series 6

Episode 5

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC Two Wales HD

About BBC Two