Heartbreaking footage shows the moment A&E staff hold a dying woman's hand so she's not on her own as she passes away.
A junior doctor and lead nurse are seen staying with the woman as her life support machine is turned off, while NHS staff support her at Barnsley Hospital.
Shown on Channel 5's Casualty 24/7 last night, viewers were left in tears as junior doctor George Kay and a team of doctors tried desperately to resuscitate the woman, who had gone into cardiac arrest.
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However, the choice was eventually made to turn the patient's life support machine off, with Dr Kay and nurse Hannah Ryan deciding to stay with her during her final moments. The lady had arrived at hospital alone and had no family with her.
As they slowly removed her from the life support machine, they held her hand until the very end, making sure she passed away with someone with her.
Speaking about the moment, nurse Ryan said: "As a nurse we're here to give everything we can to our patients and I think that's all that was left for me to give that lady.
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"I wanted to be there as she passed away, which is why I personally stayed with her.
"I put my uniform on and I'm Hannah the nurse, I'm not mum, or wife, or daughter - and it's when you take the uniform off again at night, that's when you get to think of what you've gone through that day."
Dr Kay added: "You have to separate yourself from the job that you're doing and the decision you have to make because otherwise that's all affecting you, you can't do your job properly, but I guess it must affect us all in some way.
"But ultimately, you go out and you pick up the next card and see the next patient."
Viewers were left devastated for the lady, but praised the tireless efforts of the medical staff who cared for her when nobody else was there to.
Casualty 24/7 is shown on Wednesdays at 9pm on Channel 5.
Topics: TV and Film
