Kate Garraway issued an explanation to viewers after they complained about her leaving the studio alongside Richard Madeley. Viewers of the ITV news show were quick to realise the pair had ditched the studio while Ranvir Singh held down the fort back in London with weather presenter Laura Tobin.
Kate and Richard had instead headed up north where they hosted live from Whiston Hospital in Merseyside as they shone a light on the NHS frontline to hear from patients receiving treatment and from NHS staff amid strike plans.
Nurses are set to go on strike this Thursday, December 15 and next Tuesday, December 20, in a dispute over pay and patient safety. Thousands of ambulance workers and other NHS staff across England and Wales are also due to strike on 21 December over pay.
During Monday's edition of the programme (December 12), Richard said: "We have unprecedented access just to see what is really happening," while Kate commented: "It's been fascinating being here. It's a really impressive hospital, extraordinary staff, but my goodness are they under pressure."
But while the show was attempting to show the reality of what the NHS is facing this winter, some GMB viewers questioned if the move to send Kate and Richard, alongside Dr Amir Khan and Dr Hilary Jones, was really 'necessary'.
@ScottMoffett01 tweeted: "Whoever's idea this was to broadcast from a hospital needs to come on the show, in front of camera and give their reasons. Absolute ridiculous. #GMB." @littlemoonfish said: "#gmb Is it really necessary to block up the reception of a working hospital to have a 'discussion.' We all know what a hospital looks like."
@Courts20s posted: "Turned #GMB on who thought it was appropriate to broadcast in a hospital." @Candyooke commented: "#gmb Rubbing salt into the (wound), on its knees NHS. Seems OTT doing an OB from a hospital though." @JayHWarne complained: "Sorry but why are GMB being nuisances at the hospital? If they were so concerned about showing what it's like at hospitals at the moment. Just give a reporter a task to do that? Rather than taking the whole show there... #GMB."
But others were full of praise for the huge shake-up to the show. @KTDuk said: "As a student nurse I can't express how much I appreciate #GMB filming this morning from a hospital, it's so important for the public to hear and see the reality of what it means to be a health care professional." @tonilawro added: "Good to see #gmb @GMB showcasing my local hospital today! The NHS are on its knees and while I don’t agree with strikes our NHS needs more."
Kate, however, did try and address some of those complaints, seemingly pre-empting viewers' concerns. She said: "We're live from Whiston Hospital on Merseyside, one of the biggest and busiest in the North West. They've been so welcoming and we have unprecedented access."
She later added: "It is a very busy working hospital, we've been in the ambulance station and at outpatients this morning and on the wards. We've been invited in with patient care continuing as normal. I promise you, no one her that needs care is being disrupted by Good Morning Britain."
Some GMB viewers did however just simply have an issue with the production of the show as they headed out on location, such as the sound. @JillGore8 tweeted: "#GMB is bonkers. They've set up a make-shift 'studio' in a hospital with terrible sound, people rushing around them doing their work, while they sit chatting. The background is noisy, & it's jarring to see them sat there in a busy hospital. Just get back to the studio fgs."
@DOPreston asked: "Who’s idea was this? Putting the presenters right in front of the Reception area of a hospital. The sound quality is appalling. #GMB." @lincswolf wrote: "#GMB unwatchable this morning. Sound all over the place. Really feel for the NHS staff having to work with this going on under their feet." @JamesTuckett added: "Seriously @GMB this outside broadcast from the hospital is awful. There is no need to be in a hospital. Also the sound quality is shocking, worst I’ve heard! #GMB."
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