People Outraged Over 'Stacey Dooley And The Lockdown Babies'

Stacey Dooley's new BBC documentary aired last night, seeking to shine light on the realities of a maternity ward during lockdown.

Filmed back in June, the Panorama doc, named Stacey Dooley and the Lockdown Babies, showed the Strictly winner visiting maternity wards at the height of the pandemic, and learning how mothers-to-be, new mums and maternity staff were coping.

But many people were less than happy with the show for allowing Stacey into the hospital to film, at a time when some pregnant women weren't even allowed their husbands alongside them during labour.

Check out a snippet below:

"Lol what a joke Stacey Dooley and a whole film crew can go into maternity wards but fathers of the babies can't," one wrote.

"I'll have to attend every scan and appointment alone but come on in BBC film crew".

Meanwhile another agreed: "Gave birth 8 weeks ago, partner was told to leave an hour after I gave birth!

"I had my own room too & didn't see him again for 3 days as they kept us in over a health issue with baby, My other kids didn't see her for 3 days, Angry doesn't cover it."

A third wrote: "Fathers had a fight to get into the maternity wards to see their babies being born, but Stacey Dooley is allowed freeroam? I do like Stacey Dooley but just seems wrong to me #Panorama".

Tyla has contacted Stacey for comment.

When we reached out to the BBC, they said: "At a time when many pregnant women are anxious about going into hospital for birth and important ante-natal check-ups, this Panorama gave viewers an insight into how Covid-19 has transformed the way mothers, midwives and doctors deal with pregnancy and birth.

"Bradford Royal Infirmary gave a small team special access to their maternity unit and all filming was done safely and with the upmost respect and sensitivity".

BBC Panorama)

This isn't the first time there has been uproar about TV crews being allowed into hospitals while the general public couldn't.

At the beginning of lockdown, Ross Kemp was also allowed into a Covid-19 ward, despite the fact that many of the patients' families weren't permitted to visit.

While some weren't too happy with the new documentary for giving Stacey special privileges, others seemed to think the journalistic pursuit was worth it, even branding the presenter a "national treasure" for approaching the topic with such sensitivity and care.

"Watching Stacey Dooley's panaroma on lockdown babies - how amazing are our midwives and hats off to all NHS workers during the pandemic," another penned.

BBC Panorama)

As a fellow Twitter user added: "Love Stacey Dooley - Lockdown Babies - love her empathy".

The Bradford maternity unit is one of the busiest in the UK, delivering more than 6000 babies each year.

And in June - the month Stacey visited - 454 babies were born, including nine sets of twins.

In the doc, Stacey met a variety of people working in Bradford Royal Infirmary's maternity unit during the pandemic and asked them about how they changed procedures to protect their patients, and themselves, from the virus.

Plus, she also interviewed pregnant women and new mums - some of whom were understandably terrified of becoming infected.

You can watch Stacey Dooley and Lockdown Babies on BBC iPlayer now.

Topics: Stacey Dooley, TV News, Coronavirus, TV Entertainment

Joanna Freedman

Joanna is a journalist at Tyla with a particular interest in highlighting women's issues and telling inspiring first person stories. She's also their resident foodie, and loves covering exciting new beauty launches, too. Contact her at [email protected].

@joannafreedman