King's Lynn hospital to feature in documentary showing NHS's response to coronavirus pandemic

Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hospital returns to the small screen this week in a prime-time Channel 4 documentary that will show the NHS’s response to coronavirus.

The one-off documentary, called NHS Heroes: Fighting to Save Our Lives, features the hospital’s chief executive Caroline Shaw and matron Karon Strong, alongside NHS frontline staff across the UK.

It will also pay tribute to the long-serving QEH healthcare assistant Chrissie Emerson, who died several weeks ago in critical care at the hospital after testing positive for Covid-19.

The hospital has previously appeared on Channel W's Inside the Operating Theatre programme – which gave an insight into what happens behind the scenes of the Arthur Levin Day Surgery.

NHS Heroes: Fighting to Save Our Lives, filmed on smartphones, will show the moving stories of NHS workers in the thick of the fight against coronavirus.

The hour-long film will tell their stories as well as highlighting the challenges the NHS staff face every day.

Mrs Shaw said: “I am so proud of how our staff have responded to Covid-19 and our unrelenting focus on delivering safe and compassionate care to our patients during what I can only describe as some of the toughest months of my career.

"Our staff have more than stepped up to the challenge and we thought it important to give our local community and wider country an insight into what it has been like for us all, and how we have done all we can – midst these worrying and anxious times – to listen and support our staff recognising their lives inside and outside of work have been turned upside down.”

Ms Strong, matron for the medicine division, has been caring for patients and supporting staff on the Covid wards.

She said: “These last few months have been hugely difficult – with many families not able to visit and spend precious time with their loved ones and for our staff who are doing a fantastic job in the most challenging of circumstances and pushing themselves to their limits.

"Never have I been so proud to be a matron, but what I have witnessed in recent months has been heart-breaking and has taken its toll on us all both physically and emotionally.”

Danny Horan, head of factual at Channel 4, said: “This series takes a front seat showing us the challenges they face every day in the battle against coronavirus.

"We celebrate their dedication and see the true nature of their sacrifice, with many having to be away from their own families to keep the British public safe.

"Shining a light on our NHS heroes fighting on the frontline.”

Produced by Story Films, the programme will air on Channel 4 on Wednesday, May 6 at 9pm.