Series goes behind the scenes at major trauma unit
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A new BBC Two documentary series follows staff at Southmead Hospital’s emergency department as they deal with everything from car crashes and stabbings, to third-degree burns.
The six-part show, Emergency 24/7, looks at the everyday pressures and complex teamwork required to run the hospital’s adult Major Trauma Centre (MTC), a specialist regional unit.
It follows staff as they care for patients, from their initial arrival in the emergency department, through diagnosis and treatment.
Luke, who appears in the first episode after being airlifted to hospital following a motorbike crash, credits the hospital staff with saving his life.
“My odds were slim to none. And by some miracle, they actually managed to pull me through,” he told BBC Radio Bristol.
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“I don’t remember the actual accident itself,” said Luke.
“I remember picking my friend up and just going out for a ride on the bike.
“He was on the back, I was driving – and then the next thing I knew, I blinked, and about five or six days had gone by, and I was in Bristol ICU.”
Luke sustained “catastrophic” injuries in the motorbike accident and needed surgery to realign his spine and his hand, and was left paralysed in one leg.
He spent two months at Southmead Hospital, going on to receive treatment from various hospitals around the UK. He was eventually discharged on 26 November 2025.
Watching the episode alongside Luke and other family was a “surreal experience”, said his sister, Dani.
“Being sat next to him on the sofa… It’s just crazy to think where he is now compared to where he was.
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“It was incredibly difficult just to get through each day at one point.
“There wasn’t anything that he hadn’t bent, broken, or fractured in some way.”
Luke gave permission for the production crew to film his treatment, in the hope it might help prevent future accidents of a similar kind.
“I’d like to think someone might see it, as a car driver, and just think before they pull out of a junction – just have that second look – like, is there a bike there?”
‘Tearful with pride’
The documentary-style series follows staff around the department and records the challenges of working in a major trauma unit.
“Over the years, you see more… you have had experience of being in those situations,” said Dr Reston Smith, intensive care consultant.
“So you may be calm on the outside [but] inside, your brain may be working at a million miles an hour.”
Dr Jane McKinlay, clinical lead, said the film crew did a fantastic job of “embedding” with the staff.
“They were phenomenal, so kind and respectful – and really caring about the patients particularly.
“When things were really, really busy, we didn’t really notice that they were there, which was great.”
Watching the documentary felt “very real”, she said.
“I’ve had a very visceral reaction to watching it because it feels like a day at work.
“I was really actually tearful, with pride, for the teams working so incredibly hard.”
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Executive Producer Rachael Barnes, producer of the acclaimed series Murder 24/7, said she hopes viewers can appreciate the hospital staff’s passion and dedication.
“Emergency 24/7 offers unprecedented insight into what it truly means to work at the coalface of the NHS today.
“With extraordinary access, and the trust of frontline ED staff, the series places viewers right inside the pressure of the emergency department, witnessing life-saving decisions and calculations in real time.”
Anna Bell, matron for the Emergency Department at Southmead Hospital, praised the documentary for capturing the “complexity of how care is delivered.”
“What perhaps comes across most strongly is the dedication, compassion, and grace of our teams, who continue to deliver exceptional care in some of the most challenging circumstances and under immense pressure.
“It is an honour and a privilege to look after people when they are at their most vulnerable, often on what may be the worst day of their lives, and to be able to be there for them when they need us most.”
Emergency 24/7 broadcasts weekly on Tuesdays at 21:00 on BBC Two, with episodes also available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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