A former senior figure at a private baby scan service has been suspended by a healthcare regulator after making racist comments. Jeanette Clewes, who was clinical lead at the Window to the Womb group, used racist language including “these Africans tell lies” after a Nigerian sonographer had complained about her experiences working in a Swansea clinic.
The sonographer, Tina Dilibe, was forced to vacuum and mop the premises of Window to the Womb in Swansea, despite being employed in a medical role, and was warned her immigration sponsorship would end if she did not comply. Earlier this year, a judge found that the Swansea franchise operation’s owners, Juliet Luporini and Anthony Woodcock, had racially harassed and discriminated against her. They believed they had “bought” Mrs. Dilibe and that “black Africans ‘imported’ into the UK were here to work”, as stated by the judge.
Ms. Clewes served as the director of ultrasound for the wider Window to the Womb group, which operated around 50 clinics across the UK. An employment tribunal resulted in a £33,611 payout for Mrs. Dilibe and revealed that Ms. Clewes had made racist comments during a conference call with a union representative. She admitted to saying, “You have to be careful, these Africans tell lies” and expressed concerns about African staff having hygiene problems.
Employment Judge Claire Sharp described Ms. Clewes’ comments as “astonishing” and raised concerns about her beliefs. As a result, a Health and Care Professions tribunal panel imposed an 18-month interim suspension order against Ms. Clewes, who no longer works for Window to the Womb, with a review scheduled for April.
The Employment tribunal unveiled the mistreatment Mrs. Dilibe endured at the Swansea clinic, where she often worked 12 days out of 14 despite her terms stating five days a week. She was also not paid for the extra days she worked and was only granted six days of holiday over nine months, all dictated by the business.
Following reporting on the case by WalesOnline, the Race Council Cymru non-profit called for a boycott of the service due to the “utterly reprehensible” racism. Although Window to the Womb claimed the court’s findings were inconsistent with their brand ethos, both Ms. Luporini and Mr. Woodcock remained directors of Window to the Womb in Swansea. The clinic has since undergone restructuring and appointed a new management team, alongside engaging a new HR consultancy to prevent future incidents.
Although the clinic highlighted the high staff satisfaction levels in recent audits, specific details regarding the roles of Ms. Luporini and Mr. Woodcock were not addressed. The Swansea clinic expressed concerns regarding the tribunal’s findings and indicated cooperation with relevant authorities to review and adjust their practices and policies.