By Nick Horner
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: 鈥淚 love your hair, it鈥檚 such a lovely colour.鈥 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: 鈥淚t was quite shocking. I was flabbergasted. 鈥淚 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. 鈥淚 had gone for a smear test and my nurse was lovely, friendly, thorough. I had been put at ease. 鈥淭hen, as I was getting my flip-flops back on, she ran five fingers through my braids and told me she loved them. 鈥淚t happened as I was walking out. It was such a vulnerable moment after a smear test. 鈥淚 felt quite disregarded and then quite upset. 鈥淲hy is it deemed OK to pet black people鈥檚 hair like we’re in the pets corner at the zoo? Please stop touching us uninvited.鈥 Regina said she was 鈥楤rummie born and bred鈥 and had lived in Sutton most of her life. She said: 鈥淲e are the most diverse society in Europe. This isn’t about compliments or curiosity, it’s about basic respect for personal boundaries. 鈥淭oo 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. 鈥淭his happens in workplaces, schools, healthcare settings, and social situations. 鈥淲hat 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. 鈥淭hese 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.鈥 READ MORE: Woman scammed out of 拢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 鈥榤ake the nurse feel in anyway awful鈥. She said: “It鈥檚 really important that conversations are had. I am Jamaican and Kenyan. Our hair is sacred. 鈥淭he solution is simple: ask before touching, and gracefully accept “no” as an answer. 鈥淲hen you take culture out of it, it鈥檚 just rude.鈥 Regina, who runs a networking business helping marginalised communities, said it was 鈥榥ot an uncommon experience for black people鈥. She said: 鈥淚 have had it. My son鈥檚 had it. My daughter鈥檚 had it. 鈥淢y daughter has curls and when we were parked a woman put her hand in the car and touched her hair. 鈥淢y daughter is 13 now and won鈥檛 wear her hair out. She wears it in a ponytail braid. 鈥淚 have had it at workspaces. I have had colleagues touch me. 鈥淥ne said your hair鈥檚 beautiful. I have had it on school runs. It鈥檚 quite a common occurrence for us. 鈥淚t鈥檚 basic understanding and empathy and appreciation of other people鈥檚 space.” Get the latest Sutton Coldfield news delivered direct to your inbox Matthew Lowe, practice manager at Ashfield Surgery, told BirminghamLive: 鈥淲e take any complaints of this nature seriously and I can assure you that this matter has been fully investigated and appropriate action taken. 鈥淲hile I can鈥檛 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.鈥 Regina said she was it was 鈥榮ensitivity training鈥, which was set to be given to all staff at the surgery.