Actress Jill Halfpenny has described how she was captivated by the patients in staff who are featured in Geordie Hospital after narrating the Channel 4 series.
As the voice of Geordie Hospital Jill guides viewers through each episode, helping to share the stories of the staff and patients featured…
“All my narration is time coded so I narrate and then it’s skipped forward until I speak again but with this one there were times when it should have stopped but I wanted to watch to see what happened! It definitely took a little longer than usual,” said Jill.
Geordie Hospital covers staff across Newcastle Hospitals as they care for patients during a shift and the fact that it was set in Newcastle was one of the things that drew her to the series.
“This one was hard to say no to, I have the upmost respect for everyone in the NHS especially after the last few years but I remember the producers saying to me that this focuses on positivity.
“There are so many wonderful hospitals and so much amazing work goes on but I think it’s just fantastic that they picked our region. I knew in the back of my mind that if it featured the Freeman, RVI or great North Children’s Hospital that it would be full of all those wonderful Geordie characters and would have such a lovely feel – the series has done a great job at capturing that.”
Jill already had a great affinity with Newcastle Hospitals as her son was born at the RVI. She remembers how fantastic the staff were and believes it’s this kindness and openness of the staff that has kept viewers so engaged
“I’ve had so much lovely feedback about the series,” she added.
“People in the gym have been telling me they love it and loads of people I know work there too. My friend said that one of the surgeons featured has cared for her mam when she was poorly and was saying how lovely he is. It’s feedback like this that backs up that warmth and professionalism even when the cameras aren’t there – it’s still the same lovely, warm care that people get all the time.
“I think the pride and care that the staff have comes across so well. It’s got such a lovely warm, down to earth feel about it and I just love that it’s not just doctors featured.”
One story in particular stood out for Jill – eight-year-old Harrison who featured in episode three. Born prematurely, he had surgery at 10 weeks old to repair a hole in his heart which caused some damage to the nerve that feeds the vocal cord.
The episode follows Harrison as he gets an injection into his vocal cords to strengthen his voice.
“All the stories were so fascinating but I remember the one with the little boy who had the operation on his voice. Your voice is so important and so personal and seeing him so vulnerable really hit me hard and when he said to his mam ‘have I done good?’ it really captured my heart,” she said.
And what about staff members?
“Allan really stood out as I never knew that part of someone’s job would be to relax patients and keep them calm before surgery and I knew as soon as I saw him that he had worked in the music industry too. He’s just amazing.”
The final episode of Geordie Hospital aired earlier this week and Jill hopes that the warm joyous feel is what people take away.
“I think because of what we’ve been through with the pandemic, we’ve never experienced anything like this before – it’s been horrific – absolutely dreadful. But it’s so important that we remember that so much good news is out there and so much positivity and this programme shows that.
“You’ve got to remember that there are thousands of people going into hospitals every day and thousands come back out smiling because they’ve had a good outcome. There is so much good happening and we have to remember that and never forget it. It was just a joy to record that show.”
If you missed any of the episodes of Geordie Hospital you can catch up now, or watch the series again on all 4 here.
