"Why are none of you lot normal?!"
NHS staff at Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham were racially abused, with it being witnessed by a city councillor.
Alum Rock councillor Mariam Khan was at the hospital when one male patient turned on staff.
She said the man shouted at hospital workers: “Why aren’t you white?”
In a Twitter thread, Councillor Khan said the man, described as Asian and in his late 20s/early 30s, suddenly started abusing staff.
She said: “Out of nowhere he just started shouting abuse at the doctors, firstly accusing them of only going to me because I was female and ignoring him because he was male.”
According to Councillor Khan, the man said: “Ooh you only go to the ladies ye? God is watching. You don’t wanna help the men.”
She continued: “I could see the doctors were tired of the abuse they probably face day in, day out, and responded with ‘I’m sorry you feel that way’ and continued with their work.”
The man briefly stopped before continuing again, this time with racist abuse.
“After a while, he started up again, this time with racist abuse.”
The man told NHS staff: “Why are none of you lot normal?! What is this sh*t.
“Everyone from one different country or other different country. Why aren’t you white?
“What happened to normal white English doctors who can talk properly. Why you all not born here. Where are the English born and bred doctors. What is this!”
The Labour councillor had been in A&E on July 9, 2021, after suffering back injuries. During treatment, she apologised to staff.
Councillor Khan told Birmingham Mail:
“I was shocked at the level of abuse given to the staff – the same people who were there to help him.
“It’s about time we call out this racism and a lot more is done about it because there is more pressure the NHS is under and it is not fair to have to come into work and get racially abused by the same people you help.”
“Asking questions about treatment is one thing and abusing racially is something totally different.”
“NHS staff should not be subjected to any sort of discrimination like that.”
A spokesperson from University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust said:
“We are sorry to hear about what Councillor Mariam Khan had to witness and wish her all the best in her recovery.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy for abuse, including racial abuse, and strongly support our staff so that they can feel safe at work.
“Incidences like this are exactly why we ensure we have robust security in all areas of our hospitals.”
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