On any given day 4000 staff come to work in one of Ireland’s busiest hospitals … Cork University Hospital.
On any given day staff here care for some 800 inpatients, 800 outpatients and over 240 emergencies.
On any given day in CUH, hearts are broken and hearts are mended, lives are lost and lives are saved, and families find enormous strength in each other.
This series follows staff shifts and patient journeys across the hospital. Each story was captured in one single day. Together they tell a bigger story – of CUH on Any Given Day.
Episode 6
Sean G has severe chest pain and is rushed to CUH Emergency Department by his family. He has a history of heart attacks. Clammy and clearly unwell, doctors suspect he may have an aortic tear, a potentially fatal situation.
In the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit 20 year old Zian is coming to the end of a seven day observation period. Electrical activity in his brain has been tracked throughout. Zian has been having seizures since he was 5 years old. His epilepsy does not respond to medication. The team, led by Consultant Neurologist Daniel Costello, hope that he will have a seizure in the safety of the unit, giving them vital information for a future surgical treatment.
William has a brain aneurysm that is in danger of rupture. The aneurysm is a weak point in the blood vessels that supplies blood to his brain. He is now at serious risk of stroke and requires neurosurgery to fix the issue. Consultant neurosurgeon Chris Lim will perform the operation, which is necessary to save William’s life … but is not without risk.
Sean F has cancer. His tumour is causing a significant blockage in his bowel, compromising his treatment but also placing him at risk of serious illness if the bowel bursts . He requires a stoma bag to be fitted. Sean has a personal perspective on his cancer, having lost his wife some years ago to the disease.
Martin thought the pain in his chest was heartburn or acid reflux. His doctor sent him straight to CUH where it was confirmed he had a heart attack. Today he is having a quadruple bypass where an artery will be taken from his arm and veins from his legs to facilitate the surgery. It’s a big operation with attendant risks, but offers Martin the best chance of a future. Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon Kishore Doddakula leads the team.
This is Cork University Hospital – on Any Given Day.
