Mother facing prosecution 'for asking for ethnic hospital staff to be removed from birthing room'

Published 29th Oct 2009

A mother is facing action under race discrimination laws after objecting to ethnic minority hospital staff being present at the birth of her child.

The woman was about to undergo a caesarean section when she made her demand.

It was not clear yesterday whether she was referring to black employees, those of Asian origin, or any other staff working at Milton Keynes Hospital in Buckinghamshire.
Milton Keynes hospital, where a mother objected to hospital staff from one ethnic minority being present at the birth of her child

But an insider said: ‘The mother objected to one type of ethnic minority members of staff being there.’

The woman, who was accompanied by her partner for the delivery earlier this month, gave birth to a healthy child.

The hospital yesterday claimed the woman’s demands were dismissed and the delivery was overseen by a team that was ‘not all-white’.

But the Equality and Human Rights Commission has written to the hospital after receiving a complaint from a member of staff.

According to some reports, a consultant agreed to the mother-to-be’s demands.

If a senior member of staff asked an employee to leave the delivery room then he or she and the hospital could face civil action at an employment tribunal on the grounds of discrimination.

The mother could also face action in a county court. Unlimited compensation could be awarded in both cases.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission said: ‘We are deciding what action we might take, if it’s appropriate.’

A survey of staff at the hospital in 2008 found that 58.1 per cent were white, 6.2 per cent Asian, and 5.1 per cent black.

Just under 1 per cent classed themselves as mixed race, 3.3 per cent as ‘other ethnic group’ and 26.1 per cent declined to state their ethnic background.

A hospital spokesman said: ‘The trust is carrying out a full investigation into this allegation.

Source: ' Daily Mail '

View All Nonsense News