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.

Our local hospitals have employed people to do this job on temporary contracts.
He will have no medical training and this is a new environment for them to work in.
He may have said the comment meaning something entirely different. You're assuming he knew what a 20 week scan meant.

YANBU. Am surprised st pp saying its a joke get over it. There is absolutely nothing funny about this. He should be spoken to.

YA 100% NBU. It was unprofessional and extremely creepy.

It's not OK to make sex jokes at work and it's definitely not OK for staff to make sex jokes to patients. I can't understand why anyone would excuse this behavior.

He may have said the comment meaning something entirely different.

Oh come on, what could he have possibly meant?

A silly thing to say but hardly worth complaining about.

I would have loudly said something to him then and there to embarrass him (ideally within earshot of other staff/patients) along the lines of 'well that's an inappropriate thing to say to a patient, you need to work on your customer service skills'

He shouldn't be saying things like that. He's working on a hospital reception ffs, it's not really the place for banter is it?

Having said that I wouldn't bother making a formal complaint.

If he’d of said it to me during one of my pregnancies I’d of burst into tears because they were investigating a deformity (which wasn’t in the end). I would have assumed the deformities would of been my fault being a naughty girl and all.

@dentydown me too, my scans were in hospital to check out potential heart defects (was at higher risk) due to the prescription drugs I needed to take. I’d have had a serious sense of humour failure I’m afraid.

Not to mention my friends and relatives who have children thanks to ICSI, IVF and IUI. ‘Naughty things’ indeed

Oh no, he is probably cringing about it and thinking why the fuck did I say that?!

Inappropriate yes, but I think probably an ill conceived joke - one of those that comes out of your mouth before your brain is in gear. Happens to me a lot 🙈😣

I’d find it low level amusing and wonder if the guy was a bit flustered.

Ugh, that is a really creepy comment. His mind automatically jumps to you having sex if you mention your pregnancy?

Totally inappropriate. I would email the hospital to let them know. He needs to be taught how to remain professional.

Actually, as someone who works with maternity service users, I would say report informally. It’s not appropriate and that way some training could be provided before an inappropriate comment is made to someone vulnerable.

Odd comment for sure but not complaint worthy imo. Sometimes people just misjudge their tone or say the wrong thing. I don’t think it’s something that needs raised.

When I was pregnant a colleague said something similar to me. Apparently I blushed, because he then became very apologetic and I very much doubt he'd say that again. So the best way to stop such behaviour if offended is to call it out then and there.

If you are not offended enough to do so at the time then move on, bigger things to worry about now. They were probably worried about whether you will infect them with the virus, this is not the time for minor complaints.

'He was only joking', 'It's not a big deal', run along and be a good girl...

Just mention it to the hospital I see two possibilities

1. He's nice bloke who doesn't know how to behave appropriately at work, his manager has a word, all better

1. He's creep who enjoys making women feel uncomfortable, management made aware /get more evidence.

Unprofessional but I wouldn't complain.

Reminds me of the supermarket home delivery driver who handed a cucumber to a child and said that's for your Mum

You're assuming he knew what a 20 week scan meant.

This explains so much if it's not unusual for someone on reception to know basic stuff like this

I also think it's inappropriate, but wouldn't complain, he probably afterwards thought why did I say that whilst cringing, we've all been there. My ex only had one leg, I remember wheeling him into A&E and he said to the receptionist I'm pretty sure I've damaged my foot, I cant weight bare etc, she said which one is it. He found it funny but you could see the horror sweep over her face.

I think it was a joke and unprofessional. I would not have been offended or anyhting and I probably would have made a polite noise of acknowledgement and moved on.

However, it is unprofessional. There are different circumstances surrounding pregnancy where I can see that being really innaproptiate. As for complaining, wouldn't do an official complaint but I would consider bringing it up with someone in a more casual way. If I was visiting the place often I might wait to see what the next interaction is like.

It’s really unprofessional. I used to work with vulnerable families and in particular women who had found themselves pregnant in all sorts of circumstances that meant they had complicated feelings around their pregnancies (rape, domestic abuse, contraception failed or not allowed to use them, having a pretty good idea going into the 20 week scan that the news wasn’t going to be good etc). Then of course the trauma that IVF can bring with it.

I get he was immature and it was a silly joke etc etc and you can excuse it as much as you like but he was unprofessional and he should be told it’s unacceptable. I’d personally find it “off”, creepy and I would feel uncomfortable despite generally being good humoured and loving a good laugh. He’s in a professional role and he shouldn’t be making sexual innuendo when all he’s being asked is to direct a pregnant woman to where she needs to go. I really would raise it with the hospital with the suggestion that, whilst you weren’t offended, it was inappropriate and he could do with some further training.

He’s probably massively cringing about it! It’s a weird time, I think everyone’s acting a bit odd at the moment.

Its not an appropriate comment in the setting it was said and could lead to much upset for someone else. Its a great shame that the reception staff let themsleves down in this way and don't understand that its inappropriate, what might they say to other patients? Possibly they need some training

I can’t believe the people saying that it was just a joke and she needs to get a sense of humour.
Yes it was a joke but one you might make to a friend, not someone who might be pregnant as the result of rape, be having a difficult pregnancy, is extremely anxious about having the scan due to previous loss, and a thousand other reasons.

This is not the situation to be joking in.

Really unprofessional! I'd mention it to the hospital but not put in an official complaint as such, so he can have more training.

Are you sure you heard him correctly?

I misheard my male GP one day when talking about him and his wife wanting a second child. He said “I’m sticking it to her” and I gave him an odd look and left thinking that was a bit inappropriate. A few weeks later I realised he actually said “I’m sticking at two though”