Coronation Street fans have been following Dee-Dee’s emotional story line which highlights the medical gaslighting and racism that she faced after the birth of her baby on the soap.

Fans watched as Dee-Dee’s pain and pleas for help were continually dismissed by medical professionals, before she haemorrhages and has to undergo an emergency hysterectomy. Dee-Dee questions if the mistakes during her treatment were avoidable and whether they were linked to her ethnicity.

Unfortunately, this story is not based on fiction. It is a very real issue in many cases within NHS services, including those currently under review by senior midwife Donna Ockenden as part of her investigation into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust. The review, which is the largest of its kind in NHS history, has already reported multiple cases of gaslighting, racism and discrimination during maternity care at the trust.

It has been reported that Coronation Street has been working with charities Birthrights, Motivational Mums Club and Five X More on the storyline after an official report, which was published last year, showed that black women are three times more likely to die in childbirth than white women.

It’s positive to see such a high profile show is tackling this very real issue and we hope it will raise greater awareness amongst the general public and encourage real change in healthcare.

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