Netflix medical docuseries hailed 'must watch' for fans of Channel 4 24 Hours in A&E
A new medical documentary series is set to leave a lasting impression, and it's available for streaming on Netflix now. It's not the first series to showcase first-hand the pressures Accident and Emergency departments face.
We're all familiar with Channel 4 's 24 Hours in A&E. However, a new series focusing on the NHS goes even further, and it's a must-watch for everyone. Critical: Between Life and Death hit the streaming giant on Wednesday, July 23, spotlighting London's trauma units as they grapple with high-stakes situations and strive to save critically injured patients.
From polytrauma cases to life-or-death surgeries, the documentary leaves no stone unturned. Filmed over 21 days using 40 cameras, Critical doesn't hold back, fearlessly showing the reality of frontline healthcare work.
The programme has been referred to as one that sticks with you, reinforcing the fact that our NHS workers are truly heroes. The first episode centres around a major tragedy following a fairground ride malfunction London's Brockwell Park in 2024, reports the Mirror.
The incident resulted in multiple injuries, including children, as emergency services scrambled to respond. Now, offering a behind-the-scenes look, we hear from victims, their families, and the emergency services involved.
With footage of the ride malfunction and the intense details, it feels as though you are right there in the hospital with them.
"I can genuinely say I'll never set foot on a fairground ride again. I've never been keen on rides anyway, but realising how everything can shift in a split second is absolutely terrifying," one review critic stated. "It has opened my eyes to a completely different viewpoint."
If you are someone who gets easily unsettled, this show might not suit you, but it's something everyone has been encouraged to attempt watching. It certainly cultivates a deep respect for those we frequently take for granted.
The opening episode throws the viewer straight into the heart of the action, highlighting frontline personnel, from emergency call handlers to A&E teams, all fighting to avert catastrophic consequences.
Advanced Paramedic Practitioner Rory, who helped coordinate the emergency response from the control room, observed: "They were having a nice day, and then very quickly that changed."
The programme also features the sister of one casualty who was present at the fairground, struggling to contain her emotions whilst recalling the traumatic ordeal.
The description states: "In London, a major trauma happens every 60 minutes, and for the NHS, each call is a race against time. Critical: Between Life and Death gets inside the minds of the dedicated trauma teams that hold our lives in their hands when the worst happens.
"From the makers of the award-winning 24 Hours in AandE and with exclusive access, 40 cameras are embedded for 21 days across the entire London Major Trauma System.
"The documentary series goes over the shoulder and under the scalpel to reveal not only the life-saving interventions but also the personal, emotional, and sometimes traumatic reasons that inspire those on the NHS frontline to do a job where every second counts."
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