Channel 4 commissions 30 episodes of 24 Hours in A&E at new hospital

16 June 2014

Channel 4 has commissioned 30 new episodes of the RTS award-winning documentary series 24 Hours in A&E which will be filmed at a new location, St George’s Hospital in Tooting, south west London.

The 30 x 60 minute programmes have been commissioned from The Garden Productions by Channel 4’s Documentary Commissioning Editor Madonna Benjamin. Transmission dates of the new programmes are to be confirmed.

The move means that the final programme of the sixth series, to be broadcast on Monday, June 16th on Channel 4, will be the last to be filmed at King’s College Hospital. Seventy episodes of the series have been filmed at the south London hospital.

The observational documentary series films around the clock in a busy A&E department, featuring daily life-or-death dramas. The critically-acclaimed series first broadcast in 2011 and won the 2012 RTS Award for Best Documentary Series and regularly attracts audiences of 3 million viewers.

Channel 4’s Documentary Commissioning Editor Madonna Benjamin said: “24 Hours in A&E is one of Channel 4’s best loved and longest running observational documentary series. Because all the cases come from one 24 hour period, no two programmes are quite alike.

“Over three years and seventy episodes, we’ve captured the incredible work done by the dedicated staff at King’s. It’s sad to be leaving King’s and we’re incredibly grateful for the welcome given to us by the staff and patients, but it’s also exciting to be moving a few miles down the road to meet the team at St George’s. We’re looking forward to working with them and sharing their stories with the series’ fans.”

Hamo Forsyth Executive Producer of 24 Hours in A&E at The Garden Productions said: “We looked around the country for a new hospital and St George's A&E department had everything we were looking for and more. We were very impressed by the professionalism of the team. Not only do they offer world-class care to patients, but we really picked up on the strong team spirit and friendliness amongst staff. I’d also like to thank King’s College for their incredible hospitality over the last three years.”

Dr Phil Moss, Clinical Director for the Emergency Department at St George’s Hospital said: “I work with a great team who work hard to give excellent clinical care in situations that are often dramatic, stressful and cause anxiety for patients. In the midst of this, we endeavour to be kind and reassuring. We didn't have to think too hard before agreeing to open our doors to '24 hours in A&E' - we have a lot to be proud of, as I'm sure the viewers will see for themselves. We are grateful to our colleagues at King's College Hospital for trail-blazing this format so brilliantly."

Dr Malcolm Tunnicliff, Clinical Director for Emergency Medicine at King's College Hospital (and the star of the first ever programme of 24 Hours in A&E broadcast back in May 2011) said: "24 Hours in A&E has been a phenomenal experience for King's. It’s shown the public what life is really like in a modern A&E department. It’s also been an advertisement for our staff who, like thousands of people in the NHS, go above and beyond every day to care for people in their hour of need, and help put them back on their feet. 24 Hours in A&E has been fantastic for King's, but it’s now time for someone else to have a turn".