Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
[music]
We wanted to create something that nobody would ever forget.
We wanted to create something where people felt very emotional whilst they watched it.
We didn't want to deliberately make people cry but we did really want to prick the conscience of our workforce.
Excuse me, please. Can you tell me why I am here?
What's your name?
My name is...Mrs Barbara Rees.
I never expected the response in the organisation that we've had.
Everybody doing something different whether that's stopping and offering
somebody support to walk down the corridor. Whether that's just helping someone find where they need to go.
Whether that's our porters pushing chairs forward instead of pulling them backwards.
But actually it is everybody just talking about Barbara.
[music]
Mrs Rees! Mrs Rees!
Sorry Mrs Rees.
Can I help you carry them?
You know what, that would be most helpful.Thank you [out of view] Hello Mrs Rees.
Now what did you want to talk to me about?
I just wanted to know if there are any places still left...
Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?
Can you tell me how old you are?
I'm thirty-five.
And what's the current year?
It's OK Mum, take your time.
[music] Oh, don't worry Mum.
[music]
[Barbara coughing]
[Barbara's startled moan]
[music]
So Mrs Rees, how have you been feeling?
Fine, I've been feeling fine.
Uh-huh. Sleeping well?
Yes, yes, I've been sleeping alright.
[beeping] Now I'm just going to take your temperature,
so if you could just pop your cardi off for me.
Would you like a hand?
Arm up.
Now I'm just going to listen to your chest. Breathe in.
[Barbara coughs]
[distorted sound] Right, now I just need to take your blood pressure.
[exaggerated sound of velcro and blood pressure pump]
[ticking, chiming clock]
So Mrs Rees. I understand you phoned your daughter early this morning.
No, no I haven't phoned her.
Are you sure Mrs Rees? [distorted sound] Are you sure?
Are you sure Mrs Rees?
Yes I'm sure. [Barbara coughing]
Maybe Len phoned her. [music]
[Birdsong]
So you've got to take the racquet right the way back, right the way though.
Go on, give it a go, use the bramble there.
Oh good shot! And another, well done! Right, race to the tree?
Ready steady go! Come back here!
[distorted sound] and I think I'm going to need an ambulance. Ambulance!? What for? What do you mean?
Ambulance!? What for? What do you mean?
Just a minute...just a minute. It's alright Mrs Rees, there's nothing to worry about.
Yes but.. This is just a precaution
..I need to let Len know. He's not back yet, he'll be worried about me.
Yes as soon as possible please. Yes of course, I'll get you the address. OK. Thanks.
[trolley being wheeled along corridor, talking, banging, clattering, telephone ringing]
[sounds get louder and louder]
Hello, Mrs Rees. I'm just going to carry out a few observations on you. Is that OK?
If you could just put your arm out for me.
[loud bangs, keyboard, voices, telephones]
So tell me Mrs Rees. How have you been in general recently? [voices, telephones, buzzing]
Mrs Rees? How've you been in general recently? Mrs Rees?
Yes.
Sleeping well?
[Barbara coughs] Mrs Rees? Sleeping well?
[telephone, beeping, voices]
I'm just going to take your temperature. What about eating? Mrs Rees? Regular meals? [banging, voices]
I need you to answer these questions for me.
[male voice, out of view] Barbara!
Barbara! Barbara!
[out of view] Hello Mrs Rees, my name's Alexia.
Barbara!
Len, someone needs to, someone needs to...
Mrs Rees, you're in A and E.
I need to let Len know [velcro ripping]
Please calm down Mrs Rees. We just need to do a few further tests, everything's going to be alright Mrs Rees.
I'm sorry for making such a fuss.
You're not making a fuss at all. Now I just need to speak with the doctor.
While I'm away I need you to put this gown do that for me? on so the doctor can examine you. Can you do that for me?
Yes, OK. [curtain being pulled, telephone ringing, voices]
And if you need anything, just press the orange button on the call bell.
[telephone, footsteps, voices, LOUD]
[voices, general hum] [music]
[Barbara breathing heavily] [distorted sounds, voices, telephone]
[telephone ringing]
[LOUD noises and voices]
[echoing sound of footsteps] Mrs Rees, are you OK? Can you move? Are you hurt?
It's my leg.
Can I get some help please?
[distorted] Mrs Rees, Mrs Rees. Mrs Rees, my name's Mwamba. Mrs Rees.
[Barbara coughing] Where am I, where am I?
Mrs Rees, you're in the orthopaedic unit.
Oh. I must speak to Len. Mr Rees you need to keep this in, this is
for your oxygen. You've had a fall. I need to speak to Len.
Is Len your husband? Yes, yes . He'll be worried about me.
We don't seem to have any contact details for your husband. We have your daughter's.
We could contact her if you want. Yes, Anna. Yes my daughter. Yes please.
[exaggerated sounds in the room] [distorted, nurse on phone] Hello Mrs Kendricks
I'm calling from the hospital. We're looking after your mother. I'm afraid she's had a
fall and broken her femur. [distorted sounds]
[nurse on phone] yes that's right. She also seems very keen to let your Dad know. [pause]
Will you be calling him? [pause] Oh I see, I didn't realise.
[music] Hello Mrs Rees [curtain being pulled across]
How are you feeling Mrs Rees? Mrs Rees, we're going to give you a wash.
I don't need to wash. Where is Len? I want to speak to him.
Mrs Rees it won't take long. You'll feel a lot better for it.
I want to speak to my husband, Len. Mrs Rees, Len's not here anymore.
He is here, I've seen him. Mrs Rees, your husband's passed away.
What do you mean, passed away? What are you talking about?
Mrs Rees, Mrs Rees. Your husband is dead. Dead? Len?Is't not true! It's not true! I've
seen him! I've seen him! [Barbara crying] {Barbara coughing] Alright Mrs Rees, calm
down. Shhh, calm down. Would you like a glass of water?
[Barbara crying] [music and voices]
[distorted] Mum watch! Mum, Mum. It's me, Anna.
Anna. Yes it's me, Mum.
I'm sorry I don't think we've met before. Mum, it's Anna your daughter.
[out of view] Hello Mrs Rees. I've got your lunch. Roast beef.
Oh are you Mrs Rees's daughter? Sorry, excuse me, I'll just pour you some water. [water
being poured] [out of view] Are you OK?
[out of view] You can show her how to eat if you like. She just needs a little prompt.
I'll come with you. Here Mum, let's cut this up for you [sound
of knife and fork across plate] Here you go Mum. You try.
[silence] Oh Anna! Anna! Oh [Barbara crying]
[Birdsong] [child laughing]
[music] [out of view] Mrs Rees [telephone ringing].
It's alright Mrs Rees, I'm not going to ask you anymore questions.
Mrs Rees, I'm going to speak to your local GP and ask her if she can refer you to the
local memory team. Is that OK? Does that mean that she's going to be discharged
soon? Yes that's right.
But, but how's she going to manage? [out of view] Now I can see that your Mum's
had a visit from our occupational therapist. [out of view] Oh yes that's right, um, she
was discussing how Mum was managing at home [fades] before she came to the hospital.
[music] [boiling kettle] [music] [kettle clicking]
[toaster popping] [music] [birdsong]
[distorted out of view] what are you doing darling? What are you doing darling?
What do you mean? Look, you just poured the orange juice into
an empty jam jar. No I haven't.
Look again darling. Oh [laughing] Oh gosh, you're right.What am
I thinking? Oh Len i get so musdled now. Don't worry darling. Everything's going to
be OK [echoing] [doorbell ringing]
[music] [sounds of traffic] [Barbara moaning and coughing]
[out of view, distorted] Barbara! [banging] Barbara I'm home!
[distorted voices] [doorbell ringing]
Barbara! [Barbara whimpering]
[out of view] Barbara! Hello Barbara! It's Sue the community nurse.
Barbara? [out of view] Barbara, it's Betty.
Hi Barbara [Barbara whimpering] Barbara, it's Sue. [Barbara shouting] Barbara
it's Sue and Betty, look.
Come and sit down Barbara Barbara
OK Barbara, let's get you settled down [Barbara coughing and whimpering]
Are you OK Barbara? Betty, could you get Barbara a glass of water please?
[Barbara coughing] OK let's do your temperature.
[distorted] I need to make an assessment of your mobility
[distorted] To make sure you're safe [distorted] The physio is here
[distorted] We're here to help you Mrs Rees [distorted] Mrs Rees, please can you keep
the oxygen on for me [distorted] To make sure you're safe.
[distorted] Mrs Rees [distorted] Physio is here
[distorted] Please make sure a nurse accompanies Mrs Rees if she needs to walk anywhere.
[out of view, distorted] Barbara Rees. She was admitted about two hours ago. I know she's
in labour at the moment you have her in one of your rooms. I just wanted to make that
she's OK [echoing] [baby crying] [out of view, distorted] I just want to make
sure that she's OK [out of view, distorted] She's fine, she having
gas and air for the pain. Mum and baby are both fine.
[music] [out of view, muffled voices]
[out of view, distorted] OK well try not to worry too much, she's doing really well.
[out of view, muffled voices] [Barbara whimpering]
Mrs Rees. Mrs Rees. Why don't we go back to the ward.
[voices] I've got an idea. How about a cup of tea?
Before breakfast. [footsteps]
[knocking] Hello Mrs Rees. Do you remember who I am? Dr Lucemore.
I'm Anna Kendricks, Barbara Rees's daughter. Nice to meet you. Mrs Rees, as you know, we've
been carrying out a few tests to get to the bottom of the problem with your chest.
Yes. Are you alright Mrs Rees? Can I get you something
for the pain? Oh no I'm fine thanks.
Mrs Rees, we've done a bronchoscopy and more blood tests, along with some biopsies and
I now have all the results. I'm very sorry to say Mrs Rees, it is not good news.
What do you mean, not good news? Unfortunately, the test show up that you have
a form of lung cancer. Cancer?
Mrs Rees, it's a particularly serious type of cancer which we are not able to control
even with the best forms of treatment. Are you telling me that, er, I'm not going
to recover? I'm afraid Mrs Rees, that is the case.
[out of view] What matters now is that we do all we can to ensure your pain is reduced,
that you're comfortable and, no matter how long is left, you are looked after wherever
you want to be. And helped to do things that matter to you
and your family. [music]
Darling [pause]. Darling, I've had a very good life. [pause] And I've got a lot of wonderful
memories. Oh Mum!
Yes, and, er, I really do need to be home now, where all the memories are. [music]
[birdsong] [music]
[ticking clock] [out of view, muffled voice]
Where is Anna? Where is Anna? Where is Anna?
Where is Anna? Is she with Len? Where is she? Where is Anna, Where is Anna?
Let me sit you down. Where's Anna? Is she with Len?
Oh Mum please...[doorbell] Mum just stay where you are, I'm just going
to see who's at the front door, OK? [Barbara whimpering]
[out of view, distorted] Please come in. Thank you.
[out of view, distorted] How are you? [out of view, distorted] She's very confused
this morning. Mum, you've got visitors.
Where is Len? Where's Len? Morning Barbara!
Mum this is Sue, the community nurse and Lucy your palliative care nurse.
Oh where is Len? Where is Len? Is he with Anna?
Mum... Where's Anna? Where's Anna?
Is she upstairs? Len will be with her. Yes. Where is Anna? She's upstairs.
Barbara, who's this in the photograph? Can you see?
That's you [music] and that's Anna. [pause] Anna.
[pause] Anna. Yes
Anna. Oh darling. [out of view] Now Barbara.
This is Lucy, the palliative care nurse. You remember you met her in hospital once recently.
Don't worry Mrs Rees. I know how difficult it is remembering lots of faces, especially
when you've been in hospital. Yes.
Now tell me Mrs Rees, how have you been? It's nice to be at home.
[out of view] That's good to hear. I know you said before that you don't want
to go to hospital when you become unwell again. No I don't like hospitals. Do you think I'm
going to be ill again? Can you remember what they said to you in
the hospital? Mum, you remember the talk about your cancer?
Yes. [pause] I don't want to go into hospital again.
We're going to do everything we can for you at home Barbara. OK?
[music] [car door closing] [doorbell ringing]
I'm going to need the key. [music]
[Anna sighs] [children laughing]
[music] [Actress, out of view] Nobody can predict
how old age is going to affect them. You may have been big in the city or a school teacher,
but it counts for nothing when you're frail and lonely and your brain has seized up.
I think I've been very very lucky to have been part of the team that has made these
films about the story of Barbara. I think Barbara has probably been one of the
most challenging and disturbing roles I've ever had to play.
And it's also been very satisfying because quite a few people have said to me that it's
already made people change the way they treat old, vulnerable people when they are in hospital.
And that's all to the good. I think it was Betty Davis who said, old age
is not for sissies. And oh boy, was she right!