Si King
Hairy Biker Si King tells the story of how the NHS saved his life, and meets patients and staff on the emergency and neurology wards.
Si King returns to the north east of England to retrace a period where the NHS was critical in saving his life. In 2014 he walked into the medical ward with a headache and vision problems. He thought he would be sent home with a bottle of pills, but when the nurse ordered a lumbar puncture, it soon became clear that it was a lot more serious. Si was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm and was rushed to surgery. The procedure was known as an occlusion and the aim was to relieve pressure on Si's brain and stop the bleeding.
The vast majority of people who get such a diagnosis either die or suffer permanent disabilities after their operation, so when Si awoke afterwards with only confusion, he was extremely lucky. So much so that he hasn't really looked back, instead choosing to get on with life in the years since his aneurism. And that's left him feeling a little guilty that he hasn't taken time to properly reflect on what happened - and what could have happened - or to say thank you properly.
Si returns to the emergency ward and the neurology department to meet patients who are going through what he went through and the staff who are helping them get back on their feet - literally, in some cases.