Valentine's Day

The RTS award-winning series continues with an episode about romance and the complexity of relationships. It's Valentine's Day, and at King's College Hospital's Accident and Emergency Department love is in the air. 'Relationships in A&E, it can go either one way or the other,' says nurse Abbie. 'It can bring people closer together because they get a fright and then they realise that some things actually really don't matter now my partner's sick. But you do see the odd fight.' Father-of-three John, who's 53, was on his way to work when he came off his motorbike and struck a bollard, injuring his shoulder. Frances, his partner of 24 years, is abroad and John doesn't want to spoil her holiday - she worries about him going out on his motorbike every day - so he asks their son not to tell her he's in hospital. 'I'm a psychologist,' says John. 'Some of the work I do is with pain management and I teach particular skills to my clients - none of those skills were of any use to me at that time.' Consultant Graham, who's looking after John, decides his patient's pain is so bad that he'll give him ketamine: a sedative so strong it's also used as a horse tranquiliser. Gary is in King's with a bleed on the brain and a suspected stroke. His partner Tracy is at his side to support him. They met at a biker's rally in Kent ten years ago and are still deeply in love. Despite appearances, Gary is a secret softie. Eighty-four-year-old Ronald has been bitten by his dog Benjie while they were playing with a ball. Ronald's wife Cathy passed away after 50 years of marriage; Benjie is his constant companion, and is being very contrite since the accident. 24 Hours in A&E captures dramatic and emotional stories of love, life and loss on the frontline of the NHS.