hospital staff and production crew
Maternity staff at West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust were treated to an exclusive viewing party this week (Thursday 22 August) for the premiere of the new series of Emma Willis: Delivering Babies.
The group of around 50 midwives, nurses and support workers enjoyed popcorn, sweets and soft drinks as they took a well-earned break to watch themselves on screen for the ‘thank you’ event, which was held at Watford Football Club.
Staff were shown the first episode of the award-winning documentary show, ahead of its return on Thursday 5 September to U and U&W.
Staff watching the first episode of the award-winning documentary show
Presenter Emma Willis joined the maternity team at Watford General Hospital in January 2024 for 10 weeks during filming for the fourth series of the award-winning U&Original series.
Produced by Firecracker Films, the new series follows Emma as she works towards becoming a qualified Maternity Support Worker (MSW), including hands-on monitoring of newborns during their critical first days of life.
Over six episodes, viewers will see Emma working closely with a dedicated team of midwives, where she will assume more responsibilities in caring for women and their families throughout pregnancy and childbirth.
The maternity unit at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides personalised and high-quality maternity care to thousands of women across Hertfordshire and North London. Around 3,785 babies were born at Watford General Hospital in 2022/23.
The filming of the TV show has already had a hugely positive impact on those working on the maternity wards.
Kelly McGovern, Chief Nurse said: "Many of those who featured in the TV series have said that it’s made them realise how valuable and life-changing the work they do is when they’ve watched back clips.
"When you do it every day, it’s easy to lose sight of the massive difference our midwives, doctors and nurses make to so many parents. Watching the first episode was emotional but also hugely inspiring and joyful.
"It reminds us all why we do what we do, and why we love helping people so much.
"This series will showcase the care, passion and dedication of our incredible teams, as well as shining a light on the expertise we have to deal with any challenges or complications on the rare occasions they happen.
"We very much enjoyed having Emma helping us on the wards and she’s welcome back for a shift any time she likes.”
Sam Emmery, Creative Director at Firecracker Films, said: "We're thrilled to bring Emma Willis back for another series of Delivering Babies. This series, filmed at Watford General Hospital, not only showcases Emma’s dedication but also shines a light on the incredible work of Midwives and Maternity Support Workers and their role in supporting families during one of the most important moments in their lives.”
Emma’s journey toward becoming a qualified MSW will be rigorously assessed, as she builds on her existing skills and learns new techniques essential to the care of mothers and babies.
Her ultimate challenge will come when she independently runs an antenatal clinic for expectant mothers, without any supervision - an experience that is set to be both demanding and rewarding.
The new series of Emma Willis: Delivering Babies will premiere at 9pm on Thursday, September 5. Viewers can stream all episodes for free on U, or tune in live on U&W.
Maternity staff at West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust were treated to an exclusive viewing party this week (Thursday 22 August) for the premiere of the new series of Emma Willis: Delivering Babies.
The group of around 50 midwives, nurses and support workers enjoyed popcorn, sweets and soft drinks as they took a well-earned break to watch themselves on screen for the ‘thank you’ event, which was held at Watford Football Club.
Staff were shown the first episode of the award-winning documentary show, ahead of its return on Thursday 5 September to U and U&W.
Staff watching the first episode of the award-winning documentary show
Presenter Emma Willis joined the maternity team at Watford General Hospital in January 2024 for 10 weeks during filming for the fourth series of the award-winning U&Original series.
Produced by Firecracker Films, the new series follows Emma as she works towards becoming a qualified Maternity Support Worker (MSW), including hands-on monitoring of newborns during their critical first days of life.
Over six episodes, viewers will see Emma working closely with a dedicated team of midwives, where she will assume more responsibilities in caring for women and their families throughout pregnancy and childbirth.
The maternity unit at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides personalised and high-quality maternity care to thousands of women across Hertfordshire and North London. Around 3,785 babies were born at Watford General Hospital in 2022/23.
The filming of the TV show has already had a hugely positive impact on those working on the maternity wards.
Kelly McGovern, Chief Nurse said: "Many of those who featured in the TV series have said that it’s made them realise how valuable and life-changing the work they do is when they’ve watched back clips.
"When you do it every day, it’s easy to lose sight of the massive difference our midwives, doctors and nurses make to so many parents. Watching the first episode was emotional but also hugely inspiring and joyful.
"It reminds us all why we do what we do, and why we love helping people so much.
"This series will showcase the care, passion and dedication of our incredible teams, as well as shining a light on the expertise we have to deal with any challenges or complications on the rare occasions they happen.
"We very much enjoyed having Emma helping us on the wards and she’s welcome back for a shift any time she likes.”
Sam Emmery, Creative Director at Firecracker Films, said: "We're thrilled to bring Emma Willis back for another series of Delivering Babies. This series, filmed at Watford General Hospital, not only showcases Emma’s dedication but also shines a light on the incredible work of Midwives and Maternity Support Workers and their role in supporting families during one of the most important moments in their lives.”
Emma’s journey toward becoming a qualified MSW will be rigorously assessed, as she builds on her existing skills and learns new techniques essential to the care of mothers and babies.
Her ultimate challenge will come when she independently runs an antenatal clinic for expectant mothers, without any supervision - an experience that is set to be both demanding and rewarding."
The new series of Emma Willis: Delivering Babies will premiere at 9pm on Thursday, September 5. Viewers can stream all episodes for free on U, or tune in live on U&W.