Thirty-five-year-old Shelly has been in hospital for three long months due to a series of strokes threatening to paralyse her. Ian, 81, arrives to RPA as a last resort after open-heart surgery to replace an aortic valve was aborted.

A fishing trip lands Robert in some very hot water when he falls unconscious and has trouble breathing. And 35-year-old Graeme has a rare disease that is attacking bone in some parts of his body.