Regina Martin said she was shocked when a nurse ran her hand through her braided hair after an appointment
Regina Martin said she was ‘shocked and upset’ after a nurse ran her hand through her braided hair at the ended of a smear test appointment at Ashfield Surgery in Walmley Sutton Coldfield (Image: Google)
A Birmingham GP surgery launched an investigation after a patient complained a nurse “treated her like a pet” by touching her braided hair.
Regina Martin said she was “flabbergasted and shocked”, claiming a health worker put her hand through her locks after an appointment and said: “I love your hair, it’s such a lovely colour.”
The 44-year-old mum, from Sutton Coldfield, had just had a smear test at the town’s Ashfield Surgery on Thursday, June 19.
READ MORE: Driver seriously injured in two-car crash in city suburb
The surgery said it fully investigated and had taken “decisive action”.
Regina said: “It was quite shocking. I was flabbergasted.
“I was shaken and angry a nurse thought it OK to run her fingers through my braids during an appointment. She was treating me like a pet, and, much as I imagine she thought it was a compliment, it was not OK.
“I had gone for a smear test and my nurse was lovely, friendly, thorough. I had been put at ease.
“Then, as I was getting my flip-flops back on, she ran five fingers through my braids and told me she loved them.
“It happened as I was walking out. It was such a vulnerable moment after a smear test.
“I felt quite disregarded and then quite upset.
“Why is it deemed OK to pet black people’s hair like we’re in the pets corner at the zoo? Please stop touching us uninvited.”
Regina Martin from Walmley was upset when a nurse chose to touch her hair unsolicited after a medical appointment at Ashfield Surgery in Walmley
Regina said she was ‘Brummie born and bred’ and had lived in Sutton most of her life.
She said: “We are the most diverse society in Europe. This isn’t about compliments or curiosity, it’s about basic respect for personal boundaries.
“Too often, black people find ourselves in situations where others feel entitled to reach out and touch our hair without permission, whether it’s natural, braided, locked, or styled.
“This happens in workplaces, schools, healthcare settings, and social situations.
“What many don’t realise is that this behaviour is deeply problematic. Our hair is part of our bodies, and touching someone without consent is inappropriate regardless of fascination or good intentions.
“These interactions reinforce a sense of otherness, as if we’re curiosities to be examined rather than people deserving of the same personal space afforded to others.”
READ MORE: Woman scammed out of £45k as man claimed to be police officer
Regina said she contacted the surgery to raise the issue and was keen to contact the practice manager directly rather than send an email and ‘make the nurse feel in anyway awful’.
She said: “It’s really important that conversations are had. I am Jamaican and Kenyan. Our hair is sacred.
“The solution is simple: ask before touching, and gracefully accept “no” as an answer.
“When you take culture out of it, it’s just rude.”
Regina Martin raised concerns about a nurse touching her hair without asking her at a medical appointment but also said the incident was ‘not an uncommon experience for black people’
Regina, who runs a networking business helping marginalised communities, said it was ‘not an uncommon experience for black people’.
She said: “I have had it. My son’s had it. My daughter’s had it.
“My daughter has curls and when we were parked a woman put her hand in the car and touched her hair.
“My daughter is 13 now and won’t wear her hair out. She wears it in a ponytail braid.
“I have had it at workspaces. I have had colleagues touch me.
“One said your hair’s beautiful. I have had it on school runs. It’s quite a common occurrence for us.
“It’s basic understanding and empathy and appreciation of other people’s space.”
Get the latest Sutton Coldfield news delivered direct to your inbox
Matthew Lowe, practice manager at Ashfield Surgery, told BirminghamLive: “We take any complaints of this nature seriously and I can assure you that this matter has been fully investigated and appropriate action taken.
“While I can’t go into detail on individual cases, I can confirm I have spoken to Miss Martin who is pleased with the prompt response and decisive action the practice has taken to address this matter.”
Regina said she was it was ‘sensitivity training’, which was set to be given to all staff at the surgery.