A lot of valuable takeaway messages in the episode

Last night's episode of 'RTÉ Investigates' went behind the scenes of St James's Hospital, Dublin. It depicted the doctors and nurses working in the Intensive Care Units who are fighting to keep Covid patients alive.

The TV special, full title 'RTÉ Investigates: Inside Ireland's Covid Battle' looked at the realities of the country's biggest hospitals' fight against Covid-19.

In the past the series has looked at such subject matter as the care in crèches and nursing homes.

Last night's episode was filmed over 30 days in May and June with the use of PPE and social distancing. The result was a powerful episode depicting several angles to the subject matter, including looking at the young student nurses who went from studying to the frontline; stories from patients and their families unable to visit them; as well as figures that serve as a stark reminder of how serious the situation is. There was hope, but also much tragedy.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin shared his reaction to the episode on Twitter. He wrote: "Tonight’s #RTEInvestigates was a stark reminder, as restrictions are relaxed, of the indiscriminate cruelty of Covid-19 and the threat it represents. The courage, dedication and sensitivity of the team at @stjamesdublin, like @HSELive staff across the country, is an inspiration."

 

Kathryn Thomas, Fran McNulty and Sinéad Crowley also shared their thoughts.

 

Others shared their responses to the episode on social media too.

Part 2 of 'RTÉ Investigates: Inside Ireland's Covid Battle' airs tonight on RTÉ One at 9.35 p.m.