In the lead up to the UK’s first Covid-19 national lockdown, acute medicine consultant Dr Abbey Henderson and NHS staff struggle to cope with the rising number of Covid-19 patients as the disease ravages the ward. Running out of tests, unable to use PPE, and with staff beginning to get sick, Abbey, registrar Ant, medical student Emma and the team must adapt quickly to try to stop the spread. However, unclear, ever changing government guidelines force them to make difficult healthcare decisions with devastating consequences.

During the first lockdown, Abbey moves away from her family to protect them. The team struggle between government policy and best patient care as Covid-19 patients- including a healthcare assistant on Abbey’s team (Divina)- continue to deteriorate and a cancer patient (Sally) worries she won’t survive. Abbey is forced to discharge a care home patient without proper testing. Despite best efforts, the team endures heartache and an emotional goodbye. But emotion and challenges only push staff to work harder to save patients and reduce Covid-19 spread, celebrating the small wins in the process.