To think the receptionist at the hospital was a little odd..

[Dyinginsideatthecringe]

Hello,

I have a few mixed reviews on this so thought I would ask complete strangers what they thought -

I went to the hospital today for my 20 week scan and I went to the main entrance reception to put a mask on and do my hands etc all that and the young man on reception asked where I was heading - I couldn't think of the name antenatal and just said "oh it's for my twenty week scan" and he replied saying "ohhhhh have you been doing naughty things?", I was a bit taken back by this as obviously didn't expect it so laughed a bit then walked away but my husband thinks it was completely inappropriate and thinks I should complain (so maybe this is more is my husband BU).

What do people think? Now I don't really think much of it but I don't know if it would have made other women uncomfortable.

YABU - it was a joke.
YANBU - it was unprofessional and he shouldn't have said it.

Is the hospital a dedicated women's hospital or general? I think if it's just a general then I can sort of see that it was just a bad joke. If it was a dedicated women's hospital then it was weird. I hope you understand the point I am (badly) trying to make here.

I mean I probably just would have been a bit taken aback and then just laughed it off. But it's a totally inappropriate comment in a professional situation. I'm amazed that so many posters think sexual innuendo is permissible in hospitals you could always email a complaint without identifying the guy who said it. Perhaps a general reminder to staff wouldn't go amiss.

@YummyJamDoughnut

He was being weird and unprofessional. You don't have to make an official complaint, but you could write to the hospital telling them, saying you don't want to take it any further but found it odd and unsettling.

You can't write to the hospital abd tell them not to take it further. If they received that letter they would investigate.

I think the comment was a bit weird but i wouldn't complain either.

Seriously how old was he, 12?

Naughty things?

Very unprofessional - he didn't say it to your husband, then? Who presumably you had done the naughty things with?

You can't write to the hospital abd tell them not to take it further. If they received that letter they would investigate

You can tell them you are not raising an official complaint. You can even do it anonymously. They will of course look into it.

It was a stupid joke, we all have to suffer them. You were a victim of nothing, man up.

@popcornlover

It was a stupid joke, we all have to suffer them. You were a victim of nothing, man up.

I'm not sure where I said I was a victim of anything but fair enough, I agree it was a bad joke

@SpecialWGM

Is the hospital a dedicated women's hospital or general? I think if it's just a general then I can sort of see that it was just a bad joke. If it was a dedicated women's hospital then it was weird. I hope you understand the point I am (badly) trying to make here.

I know what you mean, would have been much worse is a woman's dedicated hospital - I made a joke to DH saying this is why men aren't allowed to work in the maternity ward (I know they do, this was my bad joke haha)

I think it was most likely a poor attempt at being friendly. You could also perceive it as creepy. Some women would and would report it. Personally I wouldn't say that myself and I think it is an odd thing for a receptionist in a hospital to say, but equally he probably didn't mean any harm. I'd leave it.

All though in bad taste it was a joke.

A bit of a jokey comment I would say, so ridiculous to complain,or report. If you watch that programme GP's behind closed doors, people come out with all sorts of amusing comments.

It was a joke ffs - lighten up!

Jokes are meant to be funny. This was not.

Massively unprofessional, but I wouldn't complain. I agree with A PP about the complain culture.

Bizarre and unprofessional.

I wouldn't complain unless it had actually upset me but perhaps offer it as feedback as it is inappropriate. This is the NHS not some seedy 'Carry On' film!

Receptionist was unprofessional and has a crap sense of humour, but that’s not worth reporting.

No, definitely do not report! This was quite clearly meant as a joke.

Not sure why a couple of people are being a bit nasty about it

because MN attracts some arseholes in the early hours of the morning. Ignore them.

I personally wouldn't complain but yes, it was VERY weird. I'd probably just have looked at him for a minute and said "what..?"

Bloody grim. As are the people who’ve suggested it’s unreasonable to think it’s inappropriate.

Raise it with the hospital as a concern rather than a complaint. Let them deal with it. It may have been a one-off or it may be the tip of the iceberg. They need to know.

Weird, creepy, probably an attempt at humour. I'd be taken aback a bit when it was said, but not complain. Congratulations on your pregnancy.

I thinks it's odd that people seem to think if its "clearly meant as a joke" then you have no right to complain. I hate that excuse "I was only joking" it is often used when someone isnt being funny at all. We are far to quick to encourage women in particular to just get over it if we feel uncomfortable by someone else's behaviour and if we say something we are accused of being overly sensitive and cant take a joke.
You weren't bothered by it OP that's fair enough but I think it's very unprofessional. One or two people made jokes about me and my DH having sex when I was pregnant. I found them very uncomfortable, I would be extremely uncomfortable if the receptionist at the hospital did the same. I'd probably would have said something to him in the moment rather than complain to management

That’s a reflection of how bad that maternity is, when someone is comfortable being so unprofessional and getting away with it. I’m sure your sonographer was wonderful though.

This is so weird and rude! I work in this area (ultrasound) and I'd never dream making a "joke" that a patient had been doing "naughty things". If I overheard a receptionist say that I'd be , I'd speak to them and probably tell a manager also.