BBC filming at Addenbrooke’s for “Surgeons: At the Edge of Life”

The BBC Two documentary series ‘Surgeons: At the Edge of Life’ is again filming at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and is starting with a two-week shoot focusing specifically on major trauma cases from Friday 20 May to 31 May.

During this period you may come into contact with the film crews when transporting patients to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, but please feel reassured there are robust consent protocols in place.

What is being filmed?

As a BBC ‘specialist factual’ commission, this series aims to give a unique insight into complex ground-breaking procedures and care at Addenbrooke’s. We will follow the journeys of major trauma patients from arrival in the emergency department to surgery.

The key aim is to examine in detail the simultaneous work of the major trauma team, the lifesaving medical interventions used, and the decision making behind every stage of care, ultimately ending with the surgical interventions the patients need.

When and where is filming taking place?

Filming will take place between 20 and 31 May.

The majority of our filming will focus on hospital treatment within Addenbrooke’s Hospital. 

However, because we want to capture as much of the vital care given to patients from the beginning of their hospital pathway through to surgery, we may want to film ambulance or air ambulance crews arriving with patients at the ED along with the handover process in resus.

All filming will take place within hospital grounds. We will not film on the road with crews. 

 How will the episode be filmed?  

The production team will use fixed and remotely operated cameras in two major trauma resus bays. There may also be a small filming team with one handheld camera capturing the essential work as patients arrive and are brought into the hospital.

The filming will be “fly on the wall” and observational in nature. The clinical care of the patient is paramount and filming will not interrupt it.

 Crew consent for filming

If ambulance crews are happy to be filmed as part of the series, the production company will seek written consent from that staff member. For those who don’t want to be featured, the production team will make a note of their wishes.

If crews are involved in filming, please also be aware it is possible they won’t  appear in the final cut of the episode. 

Which patients will be filmed?

The production team will only follow the paths of trauma patients most likely to need surgery. Patient care, privacy and confidentiality are central to the process. The decision on whether a case is suitable will only be made by the lead clinician for their care and with the consent of patients and/or family.

Safety/infection control

There has already been extensive discussions with CUH Health and Safety and Infection Control regarding ‘trauma’ filming. The TV team will adhere to all CUH guidance at all times and follow direction from CUH leads if situations require filming to stop or for the team to step back.   

Who is doing the filming?

Dragonfly TV, an award winning and highly regarded production company  with professionals experienced in working with ambulance crews for the award-winning series ‘Ambulance’  as well as in ED and high pressure trauma environments for programmes like ‘24 Hours in A&E’ and ‘Critical Condition’. 

If you have any questions about the filming process, please contact Grace Goddard, the Producer, on grace.goddardDF@dragonfly.tv or the CUH Communications team at press@addenbrookes.nhs.uk