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Female nurses felt ‘intimidated’ by trans colleagues after complaining to NHS chiefs about being forced into a shared women’s changing room

Posted on by Josh L
Female nurses felt ‘intimidated’ by trans colleagues after complaining to NHS chiefs about being forced into a shared women’s changing room

TOM LAWRENCE

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An employment tribunal heard nurses felt “intimidated” by a trans colleague after they complained to HR about having to share a changing room with her.

Nurses at Darlington Memorial Hospital have expressed concern about living in a changing room with a trans woman named Rose, who was born male but identifies as female.

After raising their concerns with HR, they were told they needed to be “re-educated” and “more inclusive”.

Eight nurses at the hospital then took legal action against County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust.

They sued the trust for sexual discrimination and sexual harassment after being forced to share a room with Rose.

The nurses told the Employment Tribunal that Rose’s behavior had changed since the HR complaint. Bethany Hutchinson said they were “starting to feel pretty scared.”

After the lawsuit was filed, a sign reading “INCLUSIVE LOCKER ROOM” appeared on the door of the women’s locker room.

The nurses who complained have now been forced to change in “temporary changing rooms” which are offices, while Rose continues to use the women’s changing room.

Female nurses felt ‘intimidated’ by trans colleagues after complaining to NHS chiefs about being forced into a shared women’s changing room

Darlington nurses with a ‘Safe Places for Women’ banner in Parliament Square

After a complaint from the human resources department, the inscription

After a complaint from the human resources department, the inscription “inclusive place for undressing” appeared in the women’s locker room

The

The “temporary changing rooms” the nurses were forced to use after the complaint

Darlington nurses with a 'Safe Spaces for Women' banner outside the Department of Health

Darlington nurses with a ‘Safe Spaces for Women’ banner outside the Department of Health

Mrs Hutchinson said other nurses had reported Rose’s behavior as “frightening and completely inappropriate”.

One said that as they passed Rose in the hallway, she “looked at them deliberately and walked towards them, brandishing her keys aggressively.”

Mrs Hutchinson added that Rose had unnecessarily “asserted herself and created a presence in the nursing unit”.

Rose claimed that she felt distressed and anxious after the complaint.

However, Ms Hutchinson questioned this claim, questioning why she continued to use the changing rooms at the time.

Nurses reported seeing Rose, who was a frequent visitor to the day surgery unit where the claimants worked, was rarely seen outside of cinemas before concerns were raised.

Simon Cheetham KC, representing the NHS Trust, applied for an order to prevent Rose’s surname being published. Mr Quintaville, representing the complainants, objected to the application.

Employment Judge Sharon Langridge said she would reserve the right to grant Rose further anonymity.

The tribunal is scheduled to begin on June 16 and conclude on July 4.