Nurses’ Legal Dispute Over Changing Rooms Sparks NHS Intervention

In a significant development, the ongoing conflict between Darlington Memorial Hospital nurses and the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has intensified, drawing attention from NHS England and the Health Secretary.

The conflict arose after nurses, with backing from the Christian Legal Centre, opposed changing in front of a transgender colleague. The nurses were advised to be more inclusive and received an offer from their colleague, Rose, to discuss their attitudes.

A recent Supreme Court decision asserts that public facility use should align with biological sex, yet female nurses have been relocated to a “temporary” changing space.

For nearly a year, this temporary space, which lacks a lock and opens to a public corridor, has been used by the nurses, while Rose occupies the former female changing rooms.

An NHS England official, after an unexpected hospital visit, called the female changing arrangements “inadequate” and committed to establishing separate male, female, and gender-neutral facilities swiftly.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who previously expressed support for the nurses before the general election, has faced criticism for limited action. However, he reaffirmed his stance post-Supreme Court ruling, stating, “I want to make sure that the NHS is upholding the sex based rights of women who work for the NHS as well as women who use the NHS…I don’t want to see a situation where NHS staff are having to drag their employers through courts and tribunals to uphold their rights.”

Nurse Bethany Hutchison, leading the union involved, expressed gratitude, saying, “We hugely appreciate the action initiated by Mr Streeting, NHS England and the RCN who have promised a way forward to restore our safety and dignity in the workplace in line with the law. We should never have had to take this action, but such has been the capture of the NHS by Stonewall on these issues that we faced no choice.”

Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre, commented, “The action Wes Streeting takes on this matter could well be a defining moment of his career. If he does the right thing it will mark him out as a bold politician who follows through on his promises with the courage of his convictions.”

Reports indicate some government entities, notably the civil service, continue to allow facility use based on personal preference rather than biological sex, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling.