Ep 2. Episode 2

As a medical reality show, 24 Hours in A&E takes us through the closely-knit team of health professionals who work tirelessly around the clock to care for patients who come through the doors of the Accident and Emergency unit at St George's Hospital in London. In this particular episode, appropriately called 'Episode 2', we witness the team's efforts in saving the lives of critically ill patients, with a running time of 47 minutes.

We meet a range of patients, each with unique stories and experiences, who have come to A&E seeking medical assistance. The team at St George's Hospital both showcase their superb medical capabilities and their deep humanity as they treat the patients under their care.

The first patient we meet is John, a 66-year-old man who has come into A&E with his wife Jeanette. John has had a heart attack that has caused severe damage to his heart, causing it to expand and his lungs to fill with fluid. John has a complex medical history that has made his case quite challenging, so the team must work quickly to ensure he gets the best possible care. The team steps in to deal with John's heart attack, but they also have to figure out how to avoid the common side effect of the fluid build-up in his lungs - pulmonary edema.

Next, we meet Martina, a 17-year-old girl who has been involved in a high-speed car accident. Martina's right eye has extensive injuries, and the team of doctors has to act quickly to prevent Martina from losing her vision. The doctors first need to ensure that there's no bleeding behind Martina's eye and then clean the blood off to enable them to assess the damage. In this case, it's all about speed - the team needs to ascertain the extent of the damage to Martina's eye and how much vision she has lost so that they can make the best possible decisions concerning her ongoing care and treatment.

As the medical team work on Martina's case, we witness the pressure they face as they juggle multiple patients, including a new arrival named Stanley. Stanley is rushed in for an emergency angioplasty, the procedure used to open blocked arteries in the heart. We follow his case as the team gets him into the catheter lab, prepares him for surgery and watches as he recovers.

Throughout the episode, we're also constantly aware of the mental and emotional stress that the health professionals who are working in St George's Hospital experience. Their job demands that they stay calm and composed while making life and death decisions, all while coping with the emotional pressure of watching patients and their loved ones suffer.

Overall, 24 Hours in A&E season 12, Episode 2 offers an intimate look at the daily challenges faced by the medical professionals in A&E departments across the globe. It's an absolutely heartwarming and authentic insight into the workings of an A&E unit, and one that will undoubtedly touch the hearts of many viewers.