At the end of 2018, BBC One screened a feature-length drama about a single mother who suddenly finds herself responsible for caring for her own elderly mother. Care, written by Jimmy McGovern, was based on the real experiences of co-writer Gillian Juckes.
Starring Sheridan Smith, Alison Steadman and Sinead Keenan, the 90-minute drama followed the struggles of Jenny North and her sister Claire as they battled to get the right treatment for their mum, Mary, after she suffered a devastating stroke.
The sisters assumed that Mary, who was left with vascular dementia, would be cared for in hospital. But the hospital made it clear that Mary wouldn’t be entitled to a bed after she had recovered from the stroke. The sisters were therefore forced to look for a place in a nursing home, but the complexity of Mary’s condition made it impossible for a suitable care home to be found.
With private healthcare too costly and Jenny living closest to her mother, the single mum was forced to give up her job and look after Mary full-time. This put a huge strain on Jenny’s life as well as the lives of Jenny’s two daughters.
Jenny and her sister Claire later discovered, however, that Mary should qualify NHS Continuing Healthcare. This meant that all Mary’s healthcare costs would have been paid for, but the local health authority had kept this information from them to save themselves the money. The sisters then embarked on tough battle with the authority to ensure that Mary received the care she was entitled for in the future.
Medical Hire were thrilled to be asked to supply medical props for the one-off drama which tackled the sensitive subject of NHS funding and highlighted the pressures of full-time carers. Scenes were based in both a hospital setting, including A&E and a general ward, and also within a rehabilitation unit. Medical Hire supplied healthcare equipment and props to dress all of these sets.
For scenes with Mary in A&E after suffering her stroke, Medical Hire supplied an A&E transfer trolley, a defibrillator, paramedic equipment, drips and syringe drivers, plus a vast range of consumables and accessories.
For scenes on the ward in hospital, Medical Hire provided a range of hospital furniture including patient chairs, bedside cabinets, bedding, over-bed tables, a nurse’s station, and a variety of fixtures and fittings.
To dress the rehabilitation unit, the Medical Hire team supplied specialist healthcare equipment including a riser recliner chair, a mobile hoist, a specialist mattress and much more.
The trailer for Care can be watched on the BBC One website at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06svv63
For more information on Medical Hire and the range of medical equipment and props for hire for TV and film production, call 0113 2628000.
(*Images courtesy of BBC One)