A group of female frontline nurses in a legal battle to stop a trans colleague using their changing room have called for immediate action following the Supreme Court ruling.
The eight Darlington nurses objected to the man, who self-identifies as a woman called Rose, from sharing their hospital changing room.
Last night the women, who are going to court in October claiming sexual harassment and discrimination, urged Health Secretary Wes Streeting to implement the landmark judgment immediately.
Nurse Bethany Hutchison, one of the claimants suing the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘Wes Streeting’s silence is deafening.
‘He did say that he would do something about this, so come on, Wes, pull your finger out and sort this out.’
Last night Mr Streeting would not comment, but a spokesman said that he would be making a statement ‘in due course’.
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care added: ‘We are clear that this is the law and we expect all public service bodies, including hospitals like Darlington Memorial Hospital, to comply.’
The eight Darlington nurses objected to the man, who self-identifies as a woman called Rose, from sharing their hospital changing room
Last night the women, who are going to court in October claiming sexual harassment and discrimination, urged Health Secretary Wes Streeting to implement the landmark judgment immediately
Last night Mr Streeting (pictured) would not comment, but a spokesman said that he would be making a statement ‘in due course’
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said the court ruling would be ‘carefully considered when reviewing our policies’.
The nurses, who have now started their own union, were previously told by NHS bosses they needed to ‘be more inclusive’, ‘compromise’ and get ‘re-educated’ after they raised concerns when Rose started using their changing room.
One nurse, who was sexually abused as a child, said she suffered panic attacks after Rose repeatedly asked her: ‘Are you getting changed yet?’ Another expressed concerns Rose seemed to ‘linger’ in the changing rooms.
Andrea Williams, of the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting the nurses, said: ‘Wes Streeting has told the nurses to their faces that he stands with them. Hopefully he will have the courage to put into practice the promise he made.’
