This brings to an end the live coverage of our tour of the major trauma centre at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Our updates have been part of the BBC's We Are Stoke-on-Trent project - you can find more content here. You can also follow #BBCWeAreStokeonTrent on social media.

For more updates and breaking news across the wider West Midlands, you can follow this live stream.

In the meantime, thank you for joining us in Stoke-on-Trent and have a very pleasant evening.

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

I've reached the end of my day here at the major trauma centre and I've learnt so much.

The staff here are faced with new challenges every day - and the days are unpredictable due to the nature of people's injuries.

But all the different teams come together to make people better and what's been really lovely is to hear the stories from patients who are just so grateful for the treatment they've received.

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

We've been taking you on a tour of Royal Stoke's major trauma centre as part of the BBC's We Are Stoke-on-Trent project.

There's been a lot of positive reaction from patients who've been telling me about the standard of care they've received, but there are also big demands on the hospital and its staff.

Trauma team leader Chris Pickering (pictured left) told me workload was always increasing. "We get busier year-on-year," he said, outlining a gradual shift in general conditions.

"Patients are generally arriving sicker, they are living longer and there is more chronic illness," he added.

"We see more elderly people which is why we have a team in the emergency department who just work on elderly people.”

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

We asked for your questions to put to the experts at Royal Stoke's trauma centre today.

Prabh got in touch to ask: "How do you not get emotionally attached to patients?"

Team leader Dr Chris Pickering tells me he thinks staff are affected by what comes in.

"But the team," he said, "work together to pull each other through the emotional highs and lows.

"Personal space is important. I go swimming and that helps me diffuse what I’ve seen that day."

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

I'm in the resuscitation area of the trauma centre.

The team leader is Dr Chris Pickering who co-ordinates the various specialist teams we've been telling you about today.

"I compare it to being the conductor of an orchestra," he said.

He told me no two days in emergency medicine were the same.

"I have seen new life and death; incredible joy and heartache.

"The highest points are always the patients who have arrived in the most serious condition that leave hospital alive.

"The lows are always the bad news. Telling a family that they have lost a loved one is never easy and is something I do with a heavy heart."

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

I've been talking with Jon Bingham, a consultant in trauma resuscitation and anaesthesia at the hospital.

We've been talking in the recovery bay of the operating theatre, which is where patients wake up after surgery.

This morning, my colleague Allen gave you a flavour of the hospital's plaudits, and all the patients I've been speaking to are full of praise for the staff and their care. But there are still, of course, challenges.

Jon says they are seeing more and more knife-related injuries such as stabbings or machete attacks.

"They often involve significant injury, major blood loss, the patients are often awake, they can be agitated and in pain," he said.

"Sometimes the police force will be involved to keep us and the patients safe.

"It gives us a lot of experience and we are dealing with these situations well, but they do put a strain on the system."

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

I'm now in one of the busiest areas of the hospital's trauma centre - the A&E department.

Ambulances are continually pulling up, with paramedics then bringing in patients.

The staff don't hang around as the empty stretcher beds are then taken back out to the vehicles.

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

One area where patients may be sent at the major trauma centre is the radiology department.

Dr Biju Thomas is the deputy clinical director and says it has one of the best scanners in the country.

"It scans the whole body in 30-45 seconds and the dose of radiation is much lower," he said.

"We need to identify if there is a life-threatening injury and what treatment the patient needs first."

He adds staff get a report within five minutes of a scan finishing.

As we spend the day at Royal Stoke's major trauma centre, you have the chance to put your questions to those in charge.

We are meeting specialist doctors and nurses who save lives every day.

If there's something you've always wanted to know, or if one of the stories sparks your curiosity, then go here, fill in the box, and we could be in touch.

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

We've been bringing you patients' stories throughout the day.

Earlier, I met Carly Lynam, a 19-year-old who'd broken multiple bones in a car crash.

She told us that despite the bruises, she was quite enjoying her stay.

Here's one of the reasons why:

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

I’ve just left the critical care department where I saw lots of patients who were very poorly. Many were unconscious or on ventilators.

This is where people who have a high level of dependency receive the treatment they need.

Their families are at their bedsides.

I'll be bringing you more from Royal Stoke University Hospital's major trauma centre shortly.

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

More now from the critical care section, and it's something you might not have expected...

Take a look at these colourful screens set in the ceiling above each patient's bed:

Matron Jill Bogucki told me they've been paid for through charitable donations to the hospital.

"There is no natural light in this pod so we installed the screens with changing scenes to give our patients the impression of day to night to orientate them to the time of day,” she said.

“So the sun comes up in the morning and it gets lighter, and throughout the day it gets darker and goes to a night scene."

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

Our look behind the scenes at Royal Stoke's major trauma centre has moved on to the critical care section.

Jill Bogucki is one of the matrons here and says patients arrive at their sickest.

She told me: “We are inundated with thank you cards and people who have had friends and family here will often go on to raise money for the unit’s charitable fund.

"It makes me really proud of the staff and humbled. We should never take what we do for granted.

"I don’t think you realise it at the time what an impact you’re having on someone’s life.

"For your name to be mentioned in a card, it’s one of the nicest things people can do for you as a nurse.”

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

I've moved to the neurosurgery department which is part of the trauma centre here at the Royal Stoke hospital.

Here, they treat and carry out rehabilitation for patients with injuries to their brain, spinal cord or rest of the body's nervous system., external

Consultant neurosurgeon Stuart Harrison told me his job could be unpredictable.

He said: "We have the M6 coming past so we have head injuries from road traffic accidents, we cover north Wales and I've had rock climbers [come in]. Then there are industrial or agricultural accidents.

"However they've come by their injury, the trauma team call us immediately to advise what the best thing to do is.

"You need to make the right decisions early on to get the best outcome for the patients. Sometimes the patient needs to go straight to the operating theatre for life-saving surgery."

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

I’ve spent the morning in the trauma and orthopaedic ward talking to patients recovering from really nasty accidents.

What strikes me most is that despite their injuries they all speak with such enthusiasm about the staff and treatment they’ve received.

No-one ever expects to end up in a major trauma centre and if you’re here it means you’ve been badly hurt.

But everyone I’ve spoken to has been comfortable and happy and feels they are in the best place. It’s really heartwarming to see.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Alex has been in touch with a comment via the BBC website on our trauma centre coverage.

He wants to flag up the work done by the "320 volunteers of Staffordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire Blood Bikers, external" and wants them "thanked and acknowledged for all their hard work".

Image source, Getty Images

These are the motorcyclists who are part of the the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikers and they transport blood products for free to NHS hospitals.

If you've got a question to put to the experts at one of England's leading major trauma centres, go here.

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

The BBC is at Royal Stoke University Hospital for a tour of its trauma centre, as part of our project, We Are Stoke-on-Trent.

We told you earlier about this patient, John Doyle, who broke his back.

He's so far spent six weeks here at the site, although is expected, over time, to make a full recovery.

But with little else to do, the last thing he needs is food he doesn't enjoy.

So, what's the verdict on the grub?

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

Carly Lynam's "never had so much attention" since being taken to Royal Stoke's trauma centre after a car crash.

The 19-year-old from Ashbourne, Derbyshire, suffered broken bones in her feet, right ankle, leg and pelvis, along with cuts to her face.

She told me: "I remember the car filling up with smoke and my boyfriend pulling me out and waiting for the ambulance.

"It doesn’t look like it, but being in hospital is actually quite enjoyable.

"Everyone is taking really good care of me and I just ring this buzzer and everybody comes running.”

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

I've moved on in my tour of the trauma centre at the Royal Stoke hospital to the therapy room.

Shona Thompson (pictured middle) is an advanced physiotherapist here and said: "We bring patients in here on a daily basis to do their therapy treatments.

"It’s lovely to have this space because it gives that quiet time away without distractions which is especially important for people with brain injuries."

Also in the room is Claire Rae (pictured left), who is a speech and language therapist.

She said: “It gives us a chance to see in more detail what they can do, and we can do more than we could do in a bed space.”

Meet Katie Shaw, the trauma ward manager leading a team of 50 staff.

"Working on a ward like this is extremely demanding," she said.

"Being a nurse is one of the hardest jobs in the world with the pressures you are under every day.

"But there is no greater source of motivation and inspiration than this dedicated, driven and passionate team who are committed to giving the highest standard of care there is."

She said: "It's truly mind-blowing. I've been here for 18 years and I love it more than I've ever loved it.

"Every patient has a different story and journey and it takes a very special nurse to get them where they need to be.

"But the gratitude and positive feedback we get makes all that hard work worthwhile."