Milton Keynes Hospital has launched an investigation into allegations surrounding a pregnant woman’s request for only white staff to deliver her baby.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has also sent a letter to the hospital after receiving a complaint about the hospital’s handling of the request.
The Government is ‘seeking urgent clarification’ on the situation.
The hospital says this is the first incident of this kind and such a request is rare even on a national level. It is unknown why the woman made it.
The hospital has not confirmed whether the request was initially granted, although it says it was not an all-white team that eventually delivered the baby.
One source told this newspaper that there was unrest and upset following the incident.
Navrita Atwal, director of Milton Keynes Equality Council, said that if staff were excluded from treating the patient based on their race, the hospital may have breached Section 71 of the Race Relations Act 1976.
She said: “If the allegations are true, what the hospital did was unlawful. The best course of action would be to say, look, we will provide you with the best carewith whatever staff are available.
“You hear about this sort of thing in America but not in England. The staff involved would have been devastated. If I worked there and I was told I couldn’t treat a patient because of my colour, I would be devasted.” Milton Keynes Hospital’s own policy, ‘Managing Diversity and Equal Opportunities in Employment’, says excluding people of certain races from particular jobs constitutes direct discrimination.
According to 2005 figures, 64 per cent of the trust’s workforce is white, six per cent Asian and five per cent black.
A spokesman for Milton Keynes Hospital said: “The trust is carrying out a full investigation into this allegation, and the judgments made based on immediate clinical needs and to ensure the safety of the mother and baby.
“We take the interests and wellbeing of our staff very seriously, and any act of racial discrimination will not be tolerated.
Discrimination and prejudice whether from patients, visitors or staff is unacceptable, and this is a message that we will continue to communicate internally and externally.
“Robust policies are in place to promote and protect equality and diversity for all, and we are proud of the diversity of our workforce and local community.” A spokesman for the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: “We are aware of the complaint.
We’re deciding what action we might take if it’s appropriate.” A Department of Health spokesman said: “All staff and patients should be treated with respect at all times and not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on any grounds.
“We expect all parts of the NHS to adhere to this principle and are seeking urgent clarification from the trust.” A spokesman for the Care Quality Commission added: “NHS staff should be clear that they do not have to accept discriminatory behaviour.”