A BRADFORD-born man has given the inside track on a major new TV documentary series he filmed at a West Yorkshire hospital.

Craig Chambers, who grew up in Great Horton, was the producer/director of Saving Lives in Leeds, an eight-part documentary series being screened on BBC2.

The series saw Mr Chambers and his crew filming the stories of patients at St James’s Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary and their operations and appointments at both sites.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Filming for the BBC Two series Saving Lives in Leeds Filming for the BBC Two series Saving Lives in Leeds (Image: Craig Chambers)

It follows a group of world-leading doctors and surgeons at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, as they battle through their waiting lists to transform the lives of their patients, and decide who to treat next.

This included the story of scaffolder Jamie Mines who had a double hand transplant at one of the hospitals. He was featured in episode one, which was broadcast on March 1.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: One of then corridors inside Leeds General Infirmary, as captured in the first episode of the series One of then corridors inside Leeds General Infirmary, as captured in the first episode of the series (Image: BBC/Label 1/Sarah Dalley)

The series includes a number of patients from the Bradford district including a Queensbury man who had a brain tumour.

Mr Chambers, 37, who is now based in Manchester, says he was not too squeamish when he was filming inside operating theatres for the programme.

He said: “They wanted to show what work the NHS are doing. It’s a great series to be part of.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Receptionists at Leeds General Infirmary who feature in the new documentary series Receptionists at Leeds General Infirmary who feature in the new documentary series (Image: BBC/Label 1/Sarah Dalley)

“I saw what it takes to get an operation done. The premise of the programme is waiting lists and who gets seen next.

“We filmed the patients through the whole journey. We filmed them on the morning of their operation and with them through the whole thing. We were with them in the operating theatre and when they were recovering.

“I really wanted to do this series in Leeds as not enough programmes are filmed in Yorkshire.

“We moved around the different departments of the hospitals. It’s an observational documentary.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A nurse in the corridors of St James's Hospital in Leeds during the documentary series A nurse in the corridors of St James's Hospital in Leeds during the documentary series (Image: BBC/Label 1/Sarah Dalley)

“I got to film in operations that lasted 10 hours, such as brain surgeries. I met a few Bradfordians during the series too. It’s nice to film in Yorkshire.

“I have never done a hospital series before. After doing the series I have an even more of a massive appreciation for their system and the people in it.”

Mr Chambers previously worked as a producer/director on BBC2’s Bradford on Duty, which was broadcast last year and saw him go behind the scenes with the city’s police, carers and council officials. He also filmed inside a care home during the pandemic for the Panorama programme.

Saving Lives in Leeds continues every Wednesday on BBC2 at 9pm.