A BEHIND-the-scenes look at a Bradford hospital’s Covid ward has been showcased on national TV.

‘Working on the Covid Frontline’ saw Channel 4 news given access to ward 31 at Bradford Royal Infirmary, which is dealing with the district’s coronavirus patients.

The report interviewed staff and Covid patients on the ward as the hospital continues to deal with the latest wave of the pandemic.

Victoria MacDonald, Channel 4 News’ health and social care editor, reported live from the hospital last night and said there are 141 patients over five Covid wards at BRI with 10 patients with Covid in ICU.

She added Bradford’s second wave of the virus came earlier than it did in the south.

Professor Dinesh Saralaya, respiratory consultant, said: “The patients we've seen in this wave are younger and sicker.

“But what is stretching us is that they don't have pre-existing health conditions."

Dr Debbie Horner, intensive and critical care consultant, was also interviewed and said a cancer operation may have to be postponed and re-arranged at the hospital due to the demand in services imposed by the pandemic.

Mel Pickup, chief executive of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, gave an insight into the impact the pandemic is having on hospital staff.

She said: “We have an enormous number of tired and exhausted staff.”

Dr Tom Lawton, intensive care consultant, was also interviewed for the report.