Celebrities on the NHS Frontlines leaves viewers in awe
The NHS is celebrating its 70th birthday this year and to honour the milestone the BBC has been airing a series of special programmes highlighting its achievements.
Tonight saw the beginning of a new two-part series, Celebrities on the NHS Frontlines, which sees four famous faces shadow teams at King's College Hospital in London to see just what goes on in our hospitals.
TV presenter and journalist Michael Mosley joined the resuscitation team in A&E, which brought back memories of his own doctor training in the early 1980s.
Following his first shift, which saw a continuous string of critically ill patients enter the ward, Mosley admitted to being absolutely exhausted – and said he couldn't imagine the idea of having to do it again too soon.
Also taking part was journalist Stacey Dooley, who was working alongside patients with liver conditions, while former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe took her place alongside nurses in the Urgent Care Unit – although the pair had quite different approaches, and Stacey's bedside manner proved most popular with viewers:
As much as I love seeing the other celebs give me @StaceyDooley . Could happily sit and watch Stacey for this hour long episode #CelebritiesOnTheNHSFrontline
- Demita (@DemitaAdele_) June 28, 2018
The difference in Stacey’s attitude and manner to Ann’s is immense. I know who I’d rather have looking after me. #CelebritiesOnTheNHSFrontline
- Sara Mason (@piglet2602) June 28, 2018
@StaceyDooley hit the nail on the head, you’d want someone to look after you when you’re vulnerable!! The amount of times I have to reassure patients that everyone needs looking after sometimes.#CelebritiesOnTheNHSFrontline
- Vic (@vicky_carver) June 28, 2018
Meanwhile, Paralympic athlete Jonnie Peacock, who had his leg amputated below the knee at the age of five after contracting meningitis, was working as a theatre assistant in the children's wards.
He was in awe of the work done by the team, saying: "We're born with this right. We're born and if there's a problem, the NHS will fix you."
There were a few viewers who weren't keen on the hospital's staff being joined by celebs:
Not sure I am comfortable with this. Hospitals are not the place for playing doctors and nurses. #indulgent #CelebritiesOnTheNHSFrontline
- Stephanie Williamson 🏳?🌈 (@BtSteph) June 28, 2018
#CelebritiesOnTheNHSFrontline I don't quite see the point of this. It's good to see the work the NHS / King's do, but why do we need "celebrities"?!
Surely the NHS Staff are the real stars in all of this?- Gari (@DarkAeon) June 28, 2018
Ask yourself: Would I want a pile of celebrities helping out in my work place? #CelebritiesOnTheNHSFrontline didn’t think so
- Simon Whitehall 🇪🇺 (@SimonWhitehall) June 28, 2018
#CelebritiesOnTheNHSFrontline: why does everything have to be done by celebrities to be deemed important? How about #NHSStaffOntheNHSFrontline - otherwise known as #Hospital, #24HoursInAandE & a normal day in the NHS?
- Ming Ho (@Minghowriter) June 28, 2018
Why can we not believe how difficult life in A&E can be without throwing “celebrities” into the mix ?#CelebritiesOnTheNHSFrontline
- Alison Treble (@AlisonTreble) June 28, 2018
But the overwhelming feeling from viewers following the show was that the NHS truly is a national treasure, along with its dedicated staff, and that it needs to be protected:
The nhs is so special and I’m so proud to be part of an incredible organisation. We are understaffed and underfunded and something needs to be done, hopefully these documentaries will shed some light on those facts #CelebritiesOnTheNHSFrontline
- els xo (@elenasianxo) June 28, 2018
Really interesting viewing, our #NHS is fricking amazing & the fact it works at all is down to the amazing staff.#CelebritiesOnTheNHSFrontline https://t.co/2UbWh4HLgD
- Singlerheum ? (@DeniseNolson) June 28, 2018
Now watching in awe, the magnificent work done by NHS staff,so pressurised & working under difficult circumstances. #CelebritiesOnTheNHSFrontline
- Kayt (@kt1465) June 28, 2018
Celebrities on the NHS Frontlines continues next Thursday (July 5) at 9pm on BBC One.
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