April 2005

Hospitals star in TV series

Two Bayside Health facilities—the Alfred and Sandringham and District Memorial Hospitals—are being featured in a major television series.

Channel Seven cameras have completed the 13-part ‘real life’ Medical Emergency TV series.

Most of the filming took place in the hospitals’ Emergency Departments.

The series documents staff and patient experiences during everyday medical emergencies.

Other internal medical emergencies have also been featured—such as the Medical Emergency Teams in action—and the series follows the treatment of several heart/lung transplant patients at the Alfred.

Medical Emergency also showcases the role of the paramedics in the community with the Metropolitan Ambulance Service playing a key part.

Channel Seven crews worked closely with Alfred and Sandringham staff to ensure patient care and privacy remained the highest priority during the project.

Bayside Health Chief Executive Jennifer Williams said the television series provided a unique and exciting opportunity for Bayside Health.

‘It will increase awareness of what we do and how we do it.’

‘By giving an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look at how staff, patients and their loved ones cope in these situations, we believe the series will provide a valuable insight for the wider community,’ Director of Public Affairs and The Alfred Foundation Leora Harrison said.

Executive Producer David Mason said by presenting raw, real-time footage of the experiences faced by patients and staff in the face of everyday medical emergencies, Channel Seven hoped to transport Australian audiences directly into the Emergency Department for a first hand look at what goes on.

• Medical Emergency, narrated by Georgie Parker, screens Tuesday nights.