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"Potential racist comments from delivery midwife"

About: Doncaster Royal Infirmary

I am an African and my wife is European we had a baby boy today at the royal infirmary hospital in doncaster I accepted for a student doctor to observe although my wife didn't want it I thought it wise to allow the student doctor learn one or two things from the process. As soon as my baby boy came out the mid wife said " you naughty monkey" my wife did no hear it and I didn't want to spoil the joy of the moment later the mid wive called my baby a sausage I don't know if it was humour but I don't. Understand how a professional midwife would call a new born baby a naughty monkey especially since he's mixed I later told my wife and she told me to ignore it but I think that midwife might be a racist. Anyway our baby is precious and smart and not a monkey

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Responses

Response from Doncaster Royal Infirmary 10 years ago
Doncaster Royal Infirmary
Submitted on 14/03/2014 at 10:46
Published on nhs.uk on 15/03/2014 at 03:00


Dear Sir, The staff on the delivery suite at Doncaster wish to apologise unreservedly for any unintended distress caused by the comments made at the birth of your baby. However misplaced, I believe the comments made were made in a ‘friendly’ and ‘colloquial sense’ and trust that there was absolutely no racist intent. Terms of endearment can sometimes be used by healthcare staff when addressing both adults and children which can be misinterpreted and therefore should be avoided. Please rest assured that your views and comments have been taken very seriously and raised with all staff working within the maternity services at both Doncaster and Bassetlaw.

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