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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)<\/p>\nRegina Martin said she was shocked when a nurse ran her hand through her braided hair after an appointmentRegina 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)<\/p>\n
A Birmingham GP surgery launched an investigation after a patient complained a nurse “treated her like a pet” by touching her braided hair.<\/p>\n
Regina Martin said she was “flabbergasted and shocked”, claiming a health worker put her hand through her locks after an appointment and said: \u201cI love your hair, it\u2019s such a lovely colour.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 44-year-old mum, from Sutton Coldfield<\/a>, had just had a smear test at the town’s Ashfield Surgery on Thursday, June 19.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Driver seriously injured in two-car crash in city suburb<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The surgery said it fully investigated and had taken “decisive action”.<\/p>\n Regina said: \u201cIt was quite shocking. I was flabbergasted.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI had gone for a smear test and my nurse was lovely, friendly, thorough. I had been put at ease.<\/p>\n \u201cThen, as I was getting my flip-flops back on, she ran five fingers through my braids and told me she loved them.<\/p>\n \u201cIt happened as I was walking out. It was such a vulnerable moment after a smear test.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt quite disregarded and then quite upset.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy is it deemed OK to pet black people\u2019s hair like we’re in the pets corner at the zoo? Please stop touching us uninvited.\u201d<\/p>\n Regina said she was \u2018Brummie born and bred\u2019 and had lived in Sutton most of her life.<\/p>\n She said: \u201cWe are the most diverse society in Europe. This isn’t about compliments or curiosity, it’s about basic respect for personal boundaries.<\/p>\n \u201cToo 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThis happens in workplaces, schools, healthcare settings, and social situations.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThese 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.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Regina](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/508714083_10161880244935749_3521640710640294016_n.jpg\")
Regina Martin from Walmley was upset when a nurse chose to touch her hair unsolicited after a medical appointment at Ashfield Surgery in Walmley <\/p>\n
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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’<\/p>\n