Surgery Ship

Synopsis

A unique hospital ship offering life saving surgery sets sail for the poorest of the poor in Africa. They have just one year to do the impossible - to provide the care these people cannot get any other way. On board are volunteer doctors and nurses - now headed straight for the biggest medical and ethical challenges of their lives. Ahead lies unbelievable illnesses, many they have never seen outside of textbooks. A dramatic journey is underway as they deal with life and death cases and balance the fates of patients in their hands.

Episodes

Season 1

Surgery Ship, 1

The ship sets sail for Benin, West Africa with our key characters on board. The drama of the screening day where thousands of patients turn up in the hope of being chosen for the free medical care. Some of the volunteers are overwhelmed with the need and heartbreaking reality that they can’t help everyone. An extremely sick patient is immediately scheduled for surgery with a life threatening tumour.

Surgery Ship, 2

The first patients arrive for surgeries. There are humorous moments with some cultural clashes. A small girl with a disfiguring cleft palate has her operation and smiles at herself in the mirror for the first time. One of our doctors is faced with a devastating patient complication. A featured patient (Emmanuel) goes in for surgery and there are cliff hanger moments during the surgery.

Surgery Ship, 3

A featured patient (Emmanuel) survives a difficult surgery. Dr Gary and the medical team must make a critical decision about timing for a man with an enormous tumour. Dr Frank, the ships senior orthopedic surgeon operates on a child with a devastating leg condition. A woman with an injury from unsuccessful tribal medicine arrives.

Surgery Ship, 4

Justice, the man with a huge facial tumour is operated on in a long and complicated surgery. A woman with cataracts sees for the first time in a decade – and likes what she sees!

Surgery Ship, 5

A young surgeon makes a near mistake in a surgery and has to confront their fears. The young surgeon has to undertake an even more complex surgery, but succeeds. A homesick volunteer makes a heartwarming connection with a patient. A happy day outing goes wrong when they stumble across a road accident coming home.

Surgery Ship, 6

The episode starts from the devastating road accident the medics have stumbled across inthe previous episode. A featured patient (Emmanuel) fights a deadly complication. A featured patient (Justice) makes an astonishing recovery. A romance starts to blossom between two of our volunteer medics. The volunteers return with a patient, Justice, to a heartwarming and emotional reunion with their family and community.

Surgery Ship, 7

A man with a hernia is repaired. There is an unexpected birth on the boat! A trip by Nick, the physiotherapist to the markets to find materials for leg braces brings unexpected danger when he is caught in a political rally as it erupts and gun shots are exchanged.

Surgery Ship, 8

Nick is rescued from the riot by a local translator who works on the ship. The doctors struggle to finish surgeries and rehabilitation in time for the ships departure. A child (Abel) takes his first steps after very serious leg surgery – everyone celebrates his new chance at life. Emotional and tearful farewells between the medics and the patients and locals who have shared so much together – the Ship leaves.