BBC Panorama with Stacey Dooley to reveal Bradford Royal Infirmary in lockdown

Stacey Dooley and the Lockdown Babies, which has been made by a husband and wife team from Leeds-based Candour Productions, will be broadcast on BBC One tonight from 7.30pm.

The journalist and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant interviews a number of women from Bradford, where coronavirus restrictions were last week strengthened again at short notice, exploring how Covid-19is transforming hospital ante-natal care and birth.

During June, 454 babies - including nine sets of twins - were born at Bradford at the unit, some of whom feature on the programme, which shows the work of the Women’s and Newborn

Unit, Neonatal Unit and Bradford Institute for Health Research (BIHR), all part of Bradford Teaching Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust.

Dooley said: “I’d never been to Bradford before and I have to say everyone at the hospital has been very lovely and generous with their time.

"The staff have been fantastic, and I’ve met mums to be, mums who have just given birth and birth partners.

"I think we have a great film and I really hope it captures the human element that exists here. I can’t thank everyone enough for having me here.”

She meets pregnant women terrified of getting the virus, those giving birth and new mothers who have tested positive with coronavirus and have to isolate themselves from friends and

family.

The presenter also speaks to midwives and doctors, who reveal how their lives have changed in order to protect mothers, babies and themselves from the risk of infection.

Anna Hall, creative director of Candour Productions, said BRI had been chosen due to its role in leading research into the recovery from Covid-19 and because it was at the forefront of research into the impact of the virus on ethnic minorities.

She said: “Obviously with such a high BAME [Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic] population both in terms of staff and patients, it was great to be able to see what was happening on the front-line.

"Choosing maternity services was a way in to tell the story of the fact that life goes on in a pandemic – as well as show how the hospital has had to adjust to cope with the understandable anxieties that patients have.

“We loved filming in Bradford, and Stacey had a very warm welcome. She particularly loved the fact that she got offered a cup of tea every half an hour in Yorkshire!"

The Trust’s chief nurse, Karen Dawber said: “We were thrilled to have Stacey and the film crew with us.

"I’ve had a sneak preview of the footage and I feel it really captures the spirit, kindness and dedication of our maternity teams, who work so hard to make birth a wonderful and special experience for our mums in these unprecedented times.

“It just shows that even in the midst of a global pandemic, new life is being brought safely and joyously into the world.

"I’d like to say a special thanks to all our staff who made Stacey and the crew feel so welcome.”

The maternity unit at BRI is one of the busiest, delivering more than 6,000 babies each year.

Leeds-based husband and wife team Nik and Rachel Porter were behind the film, with the latter producing and directing.

Rachel worked in the ITV Yorkshire documentary department for more than 11 years and Nik is a freelance director of photography who has spent his career travelling the world on presenter-led travelogues and documentaries.