"Care in wards for Black and Ethnic Minority patients"

I am not white. I had my daughter through elective c-section at the QEUH maternity. The obstetrician was fantastic, the aftercare at recovery was remarkable but all changed when I got moved to the wards.

On day one, I did not have enough nappies for my daughter and so I asked for some only to be told that i should have brought mine. I said to the auxiliary that i had brought mine but they had just run out and my partner was bringing me more at visiting. This staff member half heartedly gave me some. I never asked again and told my partner to leave me plenty.

The following day, an auxiliary came in and told me that if I needed my bed changed that the linen was on a trolley outside and showed me where to put my dirty linen. I had to change my own bed that morning a day after my c-section and the following two days. I was in a 3 bed bay and the lady on the other bed was not white. She also had to change her own bed.

The 3rd bed was empty for 2 days.On day 3, the bed was occupied by a white lady and this is where I  noticed we were being treated differently. She was welcomed with open arms. The auxiliaries even made her a cup of tea on arrival. I was never offered this. She was given extra nappies and told to ask for more if need be and not to hesitate to buzz if she needed anything. On the 4th day, she was not told where the clean linen was or where to dump the dirty linen. In fact she was asked if she wanted her bed made . 2 auxiliaries made her bed that morning.

I believe outright I and the other patient were being treated differently because we weren't white. I asked to be discharged home that day. It took a lot of asking and being ignored by the midwife who was looking after me but I persisted. I was discharged that day.