A NEW documentary on the coronavirus outbreak in Wales will focus on the life-saving intensive care workers at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital.

Critical: Coronavirus in Intensive Care follows medical staff at work and at home as they respond to the enormous challenges they confronted during the first few weeks of the Covid-19 epidemic.

Filmed entirely by NHS staff, the show will document the emotional impact of their work, as well as struggles to cope with personal protective equipment (PPE) and their gratitude to the public during this unprecedented time.

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"They’re an amazing group of people doing an amazing job,” producer Luke Pavey said, adding that the documentary shows the "extraordinary resilience" of front-line medical workers.

South Wales Argus: Still from Critical: Coronavirus in Intensive Care, a new documentary following the intensive care workers in the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, as they treat Covid-19 patients in the early days of the outbreak. Picture: Dr Nick MasonStill from Critical: Coronavirus in Intensive Care, a new documentary following the intensive care workers in the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, as they treat Covid-19 patients in the early days of the outbreak. Picture: Dr Nick Mason

"Despite coping with unprecedented challenges they are always prepared to roll up their sleeves, do their jobs to the best of their abilities and do it with a smile on their faces," he added.

The hour-long documentary is produced by BAFTA Cymru winners Frank Films, who also made the Critical: Inside Intensive Care programme, and will be shown on BBC One Wales next week.

Viewers can follow the Royal Gwent's intensive care team as they come to terms with the beginning of the Covid-19 epidemic in Wales – a new threat which, it was feared, could overwhelm the NHS.

South Wales Argus: Still from Critical: Coronavirus in Intensive Care, a new documentary following the intensive care workers in the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, as they treat Covid-19 patients in the early days of the outbreak. Picture: Dr Nick MasonStill from Critical: Coronavirus in Intensive Care, a new documentary following the intensive care workers in the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, as they treat Covid-19 patients in the early days of the outbreak. Picture: Dr Nick Mason

Footage inside the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board hospital was filmed by medical staff on mobile phones and small cameras.

“Having spent many months filming with the staff in the intensive care unit at the Royal Gwent Hospital, I was aware of the challenges they were facing when the coronavirus outbreak began to spread in the UK," Mr Pavey said. "Over the course of a month we gathered hundreds of short videos – snapshots of how the coronavirus [outbreak] was affecting the staff both professionally and personally.

"I think the film we’ve produced as a result is a unique and fascinating insight into the lives of the intensive care staff trying to care for those with the virus."

  • Critical: Coronavirus in Intensive Care will be shown on BBC One Wales on Monday, May 11, 9pm.