Hospital chiefs today reassured mums-to-be their systems were safe following claims a pregnant woman gave birth in a car because she was locked out of the maternity unit.

Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages the maternity unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary, says its detailed investigations had not uncovered any evidence to support the claims of the new mum.

Chief Executive David Jackson said: "It was a matter of great concern to us when these claims were brought to our attention.

"We immediately launched an investigation to determine the circumstances behind this case, the nature of which was something we had not encountered before.

"It seems more likely the baby was born en route to the hospital, or as the car arrived at the hospital."

The investigation was launched after the family claimed they rang the hospital to tell them the mother was in heavy labour and they were driving her in by car.

They claimed that when they arrived at the night door of the unit it was locked and were unable to get an answer - the baby was then born in the car, they claimed.

The Trust says Bradford Royal Infirmary has one of Britain's busiest maternity units, with more than 5,000 births each year. The maternity unit is locked at night for security reasons. But Mr Jackson said: "We have checked all the records, interviewed the midwifery and portering staff on duty last Friday morning and tested the doorbell to ensure it is working properly.

"We would like to reassure mothers to be that this is a tried and tested arrangement, which has been in place for several years and has a track record of working well.

"As a matter of good practice, we have reviewed this system in the light of these claims. We are entirely satisfied that it should continue, offering as it does the balance between meeting the needs of expectant mothers as they arrive to give birth, and ensuring the personal safety of those women and their babies within the unit."

But Councillor Sajawal Hussain (Lab, University) the ward councillor who took up the family's complaint, said: "I am frustrated and angry by these findings. This family had nothing to gain from saying what they did."

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