24 Hours in A&E

S08:E10 - Fathers and Sons

51-year-old builder Rod is rushed to A&E after falling eighteen feet from scaffolding onto concrete. His injuries are so serious that he’s taken straight for a CT scan of his head, neck and back. Rod’s brother Doug was at the scene of the accident and saw him fall. Doug and Rod’s wife Nicky are in shock and scans reveal that Rod has fractured some of his vertebrae and will require extensive surgery. Nicky calls their two sons to prepare them for bad news. Meanwhile 86-year-old retired policeman John is brought to St George’s having fallen off a wall while waiting for his wife Barbara and has injured his head. Doctors carry out scans and reveal that John’s broken his neck. As doctors assess the severity of the damage and treat his head wound, John talks about how his career as a policeman - including as part of the so-called ‘dirty squad’ - took over his life, so much so that he missed the birth of his son. And 19-year-old cyclist Mack is rushed to St George’s after colliding with a Porsche. He has a head injury and an agonising dislocated shoulder which consultant Manny needs specialist help to relocate. Dad Jim explains how adopting Mack and his brother changed all their lives.