Black caller lists harrowing racism family suffered in NHS care

14 February 2022, 14:50

Caller lists racist experiences she has been victim of in NHS

By Seán Hickey

This caller left Shelagh Fogarty lost for words as she recalled the agonising racism she and her family have experienced in the hands of the NHS.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Provisional findings of a paper detailing health inequality in the NHS make damning reading for the health services. The devastating report led by the University of Manchester indicates rampant racism in the health services, despite concerns being voiced about health inequalities long ago.

LBC listeners have shared their personal experiences of racism within the health services throughout Monday morning. Anna phoned Shelagh Fogarty to share her lifetime battle with racism in the NHS.

She began by sharing the story of her sister, who after an initial diagnosis of Lupus had developed cancer in her spine and ribs.

A series of mistreatments, including being left on the floor after falling and having her blanket thrown next to her bed, made Anna's sister fearful of a return to hospital.

Read more: Senior NHS staff told to study 'white privilege' and 'not be defensive' in anti-racism blog

"She begged my mother, myself and her daughter to not bring her back to the hospital, no matter how ill she got." The caller insisted that she made the request "for the way they treated, not just her, but other black people."

As treatment worsened, including whispers between nurses that she was faking her illness, the caller's sister passed away.

Caller details of racial bias in NHS as mother-in-law battles cancer

Read more: NHS doctor tells Iain Dale of shocking racist abuse from patients

Anna then shared her own experience. Once, after passing blood and being sent for a colonoscopy, the findings of which recommended meeting a gastroenterologist, she was refused a referral by her GP.

She told Shelagh that it was blatant racism, "in the sense that you can just deal with it", because she is black.

Another instance she shared was when she was suffering with Anorexia in her late teens: "I went to my GP and he said 'black people don't suffer from eating disorders.'"

Her brother was told he had a groin injury from playing sport, but he didn't play sport. As the family delved further, it transpired that the joints in his hips were malformed.

Caller told to shut up whilst delivering her child

Read more: Racism a 'root cause' of increased Covid-19 deaths among BAME patients, paper finds

"I remember crawling out of the ward", Anna said, recalling a time when she was discharged from hospital whilst in labour, because nurses insisted she wasn't.

"I vowed then and there to never have another kid."

She concluded by sharing how she stressed the importance of getting vaccinated to her black friends and family.

"If it's a choice between putting you on a ventilator and putting a white person on a ventilator, you're not going to be prioritised."

More Shelagh Fogarty News

See more More Shelagh Fogarty News

The Princess of Wales says she edited the photograph that was released to mark Mother's Day.

The insistence that we see Kate is tantamount to stalking, writes Shelagh Fogarty

Caller tells Shelagh his solution to illegal immigration.

LBC caller tells Shelagh Fogarty that the Channel islands are the answer to 'illegal immigration'

'Rishi Sunak chooses to do the self interested party politics': Shelagh Fogarty reflects on Tories' immigration policies

'Rishi Sunak chooses to do the self-interested party politics': Shelagh Fogarty reflects on Tories' migration policies

Shelagh Fogarty

Former Treasury official outlines 'three immediate priorities' likely to be reflected in Autumn Statement

Shelagh Fogarty

Suella Braverman's hardline crime bill seems like she's ‘interviewing' for career at ‘pathetic’ news channels, says caller

Shelagh and caller Sam

Anti-Semitic chants and actions 'delegitimize' pro-Palestinian cause asserts this Shelagh Fogarty caller

Shelagh and Ricardo Dos Santos

'It's sickening': Ricardo Dos Santos speaks to Shelagh Fogarty as two officers sacked over stop and search

Shelagh

Rishi Sunak has 'failed monumentally' to 'humanise' both sides of the Israel-Hamas conflict says Israel expert

Shelagh and Callum

Twitter is a 'particularly dangerous' place to get information now says the Centre for Countering Digital Hate

Shelagh and caller Simon

LBC caller details 'disgusting anti-Semitic' act he witnessed, as hate crimes rise in fall out of Israel-Hamas war

Sister of missing Israeli woman

'We hope she's hiding somewhere': Sister of missing Israeli festival goer fears she is being held hostage by Hamas

Distraught caller on Israel-Gaza conflict.

'This is a war against Hamas!': Distraught caller wants Israel and Palestine to take down the 'enemy' together

Shelagh and Alicia Kearns

Head of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee expresses concern over Israeli 'siege of Gaza'

Shelagh Fogarty caller on facial recognition.

This caller lacks 'trust' in the government's handling of the AI facial recognition debate

Shelagh condemns PM's comments on 'dignity' of the elderly.

'He painted a picture of a Britain that the Conservatives meant to build...': Shelagh Fogarty condemns PM's suggestion that elderly have 'dignity'

Shelagh Fogarty on Jenrick

'We're full aren't we?': Shelagh questions Robert Jenrick's motive behind encouraging Brits to increase birth rate