"Everyone should watch it – then complain to Theresa May and Jeremy Hunt": BBC2’s Hospital had viewers up in arms

The documentary shone a brutal light on the daily pressures faced by hospitals and staff in the NHS

Published: Thursday, 12 January 2017 at 9:25 am

Angry and frustrated viewers last night called for Prime Minister Theresa May and Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt to be made to watch new BBC2 documentary Hospital.

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Filmed over six weeks, the opening episode gave an unflinching look at the daily pressures and struggles that staff and managers face at one of the country’s biggest NHS Trusts in London.

With next to no beds available in several central London hospitals on an average Monday morning, surgeons were faced with an impossible decision. Do they give the one remaining bed to a cancer patient called Simon who needs surgery imminently, or is it reserved and given to an emergency admission – a woman who’s had an aneurysm and needs life-saving surgery?

It was a situation that had viewers up in arms on Twitter, with many saying that May and Hunt should have to watch the programme.

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Bristol-based surgeon Phillip Clamp praised the programme for giving an “honest and frank portrayal of current NHS pressures”, while others were left in tears watching the hard work of NHS staff.

Honest and frank portrayal of current NHS pressures. Well done BBC. #hospital #NHSCrisis

BBC Two - Hospital https://t.co/PkdN70ggoH

— Philip Clamp (@PhilipClampENT) January 11, 2017

I'm so glad the BBC are showing how much pressure hospital staff are under & how difficult the behind the scenes decisions are #hospital

— Lornz (@83Lorna) January 12, 2017

Watching the new BBC show "Hospital' literally puts you to tears. It's ridiculous the constraints that hospital staff are put on. #hospital

— Mapala (@ChristyV95) January 11, 2017

If you haven't, go and watch #hospital on BBC. Brilliant portrait of painfully familiar scenes

— Jim Heron-Nott (@Jim28_9) January 11, 2017

So desperately sad BBC 2 hospital programme ??

— Yolanda Ioannou (@yolanda_ioannou) January 11, 2017

Bravo @BBC's #hospital -compelling,insightful prog showing true sad state of current NHS crisis resulting from years of chronic underfunding

— Jules Walker (@juleswalker77) January 11, 2017

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Hospital continues on Wednesday January 18 on BBC Two at 9pm

Authors

Frances Taylor wears a black open-necked shirt, is smiling and looking at the camera

Frances Taylor

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