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The BBC's chief presenter Clive Myrie spent 24 hours at the Royal Free Hospital and thanked the teams across the trust who gave him access to their work - from those responding to the pressure created by huge demand, to staff delivering life-saving operations.
Clive's report on his experience was the centrepiece of the BBC's coverage - with an unprecedented ten-minute slot on the BBC News at Six and Ten where he shared his insights with health editor, Hugh Pym.
And today (14 February), the BBC has published an emotional, and very personal, account of Clive's time with us which you can read here.
To prepare for the BBC's day of coverage from the Royal Free Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital, BBC researchers, filmmakers and presenters were given access to a whole range of services, covering all aspects of hospital life. The trust's partnership with the Royal Free Charity, was also celebrated across the airwaves.
The coverage coincided with the NHS announcing that waiting lists for patients to receive treatment had dropped for the fourth month in a row.
Among the emotional stories featured during the day was that of Kevin who was undergoing a kidney transplant thanks to his stepdaughter Siobhan, who was his living donor.
Presenter Nina Warhurst reported live from the emergency department at the Royal Free Hospital on BBC Breakfast. She spoke to Royal Free Hospital medical director Jenny Cross about the challenges of having medically well patients who are waiting for additional care at home before they can leave hospital and what she thinks are the solutions.
“I would really love to see a move towards prevention and to try to focus on things to help our patients, not just to get well when they’re sick but what could we do to empower and support patients to stay well and live well so they come to hospital less,” said Jenny.
The programme also featured a pre-recorded piece by health editor Hugh Pym. He spoke to David Nasralla, consultant surgeon and pancreatic and liver specialist, and his patient Margaret who has pancreatic cancer and was about to have a Whipple procedure – major surgery to remove her tumour.
“For many cancers the key to long-term survival is early diagnosis and quick access to appropriate treatment,” said David. “I always tell people that this operation has the potential to cure. In a significant minority, it is a cure.”
Cancer care was in the spotlight throughout the day. Consultant medical oncologist and clinical lead for cancer Dr Roopinder Gillmore told Kasia Madera, reporting for the BBC News Channel, that we are always committed to ‘the best patient experience, patient safety and patient outcomes’ and that we ‘genuinely want to make sure that every single patient we see gets this sort of care that we would want for our family members’.
From radiotherapy to our care of the elderly wards and from maternity to patients taking part in clinical trials, the incredible work of our staff was evident during this incredible day of coverage.
The BBC were also given access to our emergency department so we could show the reality of just how busy staff are and colleagues in the discharge team also shared the challenges they face every day to try and get patients safely home.
We are very grateful to everyone who took part in the programme – patients, staff and even a dog. Luna the therapy shook hands with presenter Nina Wakehurst on BBC Breakfast. Luna’s owner, ED operations manager Brooke Reeve gives wellbeing support to her colleagues and patients by taking Luna to the wards when she isn’t working, as part of a programme organised by the Royal Free Charity.
