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Episode 2

In this episode, 50 year old Paul is rushed in with some of the worst facial injuries that the team has ever seen. Having somersaulted off his quad bike, Paul’s head has taken the full impact of the accident, leaving him with life-changing damage to his face and skull.

Whilst it’s the catastrophic injuries to Paul’s eyes that are immediately apparent, it’s his breathing which Trauma Team Leader Richard Hall is initially most concerned with. Coughing up blood and unable to open his mouth properly, Paul is very obviously struggling to draw breath. With most of the bones in his face broken, the team know that if they don’t act fast, there’s a very real danger that Paul’s face will collapse in on itself - essentially suffocating him.

With the clock ticking, Paul is rushed to theatre to secure his airway, in what will turn out to be the first of several surgeries to attempt to save his life.

Meanwhile, the team are put on high alert to receive a patient who is seriously injured and needs emergency specialist care. Diane’s car has been in collision with a van, leaving her with multiple broken ribs and a spinal fracture. But it’s the damage to her oesophagus which is the biggest cause for concern for Trauma Team Leader Paul Hancock. He knows that if there is a tear in her windpipe, the contents of her stomach could leak out into her body, causing a life-threatening infection.

Finally, when a patient is brought in unconscious, having fallen whilst standing up in a care home, Trauma Team Leader Paul goes into detective mode. With very little information to work off, Paul must rapidly piece together what little he does know, to work out the best course of action for his patient whose health is rapidly declining. It’s a race against time.

Community carer involved in van crash to feature in latest episode of award winning Royal Stoke documentary

A community carer who was rushed to University Hospitals of North Midlands Major Trauma Centre after a road accident left her with multiple injuries is to feature in the latest episode of 999: Critical Condition.

Diane Ryles, of Sandbach, was on her way home in January when a van ploughed into the back of her car leaving her with multiple broken ribs and a spinal fracture. However, it was concerns about internal injuries which meant she was transferred from Leighton Hospital to the specialist centre at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

The hospital works within the North West Midlands and North Wales Trauma Network and when anyone is seriously injured in incidents such as vehicle collisions, falls, or assaults, they are taken either directly or transferred to Royal Stoke where there is rapid access to a full range of specialist services for the management of life threatening injuries.

Today Diane said: “I was taken to Leighton Hospital but they were concerned I had internal injuries so was transferred to the trauma centre where I received a CT scan and MRI.

“They were worried I had damaged my oesophagus because if there was a tear is could have been really serious but thankfully everything was okay.”

She added: “Everything happened so fast once I arrived in Stoke but they were a fantastic team and I wish I could thank everyone who saw me individually.

 “I received such amazing care from all the emergency services, the police who attended the crash, the fire service who cut me free, the paramedic and he wonderful doctors and nurses at Leighton and of course Royal Stoke. I felt I was in safe hands the whole time and it made me feel so grateful.”

61-year-old Diane, who cares for her mother at home, said: “I am only just getting back to driving but I am very nervous if I am on my own and particularly if I can see a van coming up behind me, but I am getting there and my injuries are all good.”

Diane story will be screened on Channel 5 at 9pm on Wednesday 17 May in the critically acclaimed documentary which is filmed exclusively at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Diane said: “I watched last week’s episode to prepare myself and mum for what we might see and I think it is a fantastic programme. It is easy to get frustrated when waiting in A&E because you don’t realise what is going on behind closed doors and that there are often people much much worse off than you needing quicker and more urgent care.”

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