Hospital Watch

In the week starting 17 February 1986 Hospital Watch began, a remarkable series of live broadcasts that gave a comprehensive view of life inside the NHS. Two Portsmouth hospitals were the setting for the action, the Queen Alexandra and the older Queen Mary. Every aspect of day to day life was shown - from the boiler room to the operating theatre – as viewers watched the progress of staff and patients across the week, guided by the reassuring presence of Frank Bough.

Hospital Watch began each day on Breakfast Time, before a further visit in the late afternoon. The final daily programme was on late at night, with highlights of the day’s events including footage of operations and other procedures that was too much for teatime viewers. Alongside Bough, complete coverage was provided with the help of Debbie Thrower, Maggie Philbin and Robbie Vincent.

The success of the Portsmouth series of Hospital Watch led to further series, with cameras visiting Liverpool in 1988, West London in 1991 and Cambridge in 1995. BBC programmes continue to feed interest in the workings of the NHS, with series like Hospital 24/7 and Hospital - which in 2020 gave a glimpse of working conditions during the coronavirus crisis.