AN investigation has been launched after a staff member allegedly racially abused a family at a city dental hospital.

Nadeem Hussain attended the Glasgow Dental Hospital, on Sauchiehall Street, with his wife Ghazala and son Adam on Monday evening due to an issue with the youngster’s braces.

After approaching the reception desk and giving his name, Mr Hussain said a male member of staff made a racist remark towards the 16-year-old.

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The worker allegedly remarked that Adam’s name sounded like Saddam Hussein’s.

The worker, thought to be a security guard, then followed the family upstairs to another reception area, where he allegedly muttered: “Didn’t he die in Iraq?”

Although the nurses were described as being ‘embarrassed’, the 45-year-old dad said no attempts were made to apologise or to put the family at ease.

Mr Hussain, who is studying law at the University of Strathclyde, said the incident was one of the first times his son has experienced ‘blatant racism’.

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He added: “My son has not long turned 16 and I try and shield him from this form of blatant racism that seems to be rife in our society at this given moment in time.

“To go into a professional establishment and have this type of attitude towards your patients is completely unacceptable.

“I have written a letter of complaint to the university that governs this dental hospital.

“It seems that the nurses were visibly embarrassed but did not say anything or apologise for the man’s remarks.

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“I think it’s important to speak out about these things because they have become so normalised and that’s just not right.

“I’m used to receiving these kind of remarks but it’s not something I want to happen to my son.”

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “We have a policy which does not condone any form of offensive language or unfair discrimination.

“This policy is not only for our staff but anyone contracted to provide a service in any of our premises.

“This alleged incident involves a security guard and we will be fully investigating this incident.”