Five NHS nurses claim they were forced out of their changing rooms and into a ‘humiliating’ locker room after complaining about a transgender colleague.
The Darlington Memorial Hospital workers launched legal action in June for alleged sexual harassment against County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.
They claim their bosses ignored their concerns about having to share a changing room with a colleague born biologically male who now identifies as a woman.
The nurses said vulnerable women who have suffered sexual abuse were having panic attacks before working on wards after having to get undressed in front of the 26-year-old transgender nurse who stared at their breasts and lingered in the room.
After taking legal action three months ago, the nurses were given what they labelled a ‘humiliating’ changing room – which was meant to be temporary but is still in place.
The nurses – Bethany Hutchison, Lisa Lockey, Annice Grundy, Tracey Hooper and Joanne Bradbury – have been dubbed the ‘Darlington Five’ and compared to the Ford workers who fought for equal pay and inspired the 2010 film Made in Dagenham.
(From left) Lisa Lockey, Annice Grundy, Tracey Hooper and Bethany Hutchison are four of the ‘Darlington Five’ who launched action against their NHS trust for alleged sexual harassment
The nurses in Darlington say they are now having to change in a ‘humiliating’ locker room
The NHS workers claim the changing room was meant to be temporary but is still in place
In a joint statement today, the nurses said: ‘We continue to be appalled at how we and our female colleagues are being humiliated and dehumanised by the hospital and Trust.
‘Instead of listening and acting on our concerns and the public and media outcry, they have doubled down, putting transgender ideology before women’s safety.
‘We were told the locker room would be ‘temporary’ until a solution was found. This locker room, however, does not appear to be temporary and no solution has been found.
‘Changing in this room has made us feel humiliated, embarrassed, isolated, ostracised, degraded and dehumanised.’
They claimed that the room still falls under the same policy as any other changing room facility in the trust – and therefore a biological male identifying as a woman could still access it if they wanted.
The nurses’ locker room for changing only has one chair and a hook on the back of the door
The room also opens straight onto a busy ward corridor and is opposite a patient side room
The woman continued: ‘From the beginning we have always advocated for our male colleagues to be given dignified changing room space – we just do not believe that space should be in the female changing room.’
The case began when the nurses claimed they were forced without warning or consultation to share a changing room with their transgender colleague.
One nurse, who experienced sexual abuse as a child, described how the colleague caused her to have panic attacks after repeatedly asking her in the changing room when they were alone together: ‘Are you getting changed yet?’
Other nurses who were said to have been traumatised were those whose religious and cultural beliefs mean they cannot undress around men.
But the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting the women, claims that the trust’s policies allow any member of staff to identify in the opposite gender and to access single-sex changing rooms, toilets or showers on that basis.
A sign, firmly taped on to the door with rainbow colours across an NHS logo appeared on the female changing room which said: ‘Inclusive changing space.’ In big red letters, it also said: ‘Do not remove this sign.’ The sign has since been taken down with no explanation given
Darlington Memorial Hospital is part of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Some 26 nurses then wrote to HR and senior management about their concerns, but said they were told via their ward manager that they should be ‘re-educated’, ‘broaden their mindset’ and be more ‘inclusive’.
In June, they went public with their story and their launch of their legal case – which prompted support from then-shadow health secretary Wes Streeting.
Mr Streeting, who became Health Secretary after the General Election, tweeted on June 24: ‘I support the nurses and I’m horrified that they’ve had to resort to legal action.
‘We’ve got to find a better way through this and I’d be happy to meet them. We’ve got to find a way through that treats trans people with respect and respects women’s safe spaces.’
The woman are still yet to meet with either Mr Streeting or the Department for Health and Social Care, but MailOnline understands that the department is now trying to sort out a time and date for this to take place.
The nurses have received hundreds of cards supporting them from women across the UK
One of the hundreds of cards received by the nurses at Darlington Memorial Hospital
Speaking about this, the nurses said: ‘The non-response from Mr Streeting is deeply disappointing, but sadly we are also not surprised.
‘Nonetheless, we call on him to honour his promise and willingness to meet with us to discuss what has happened to us and why this dangerous policy needs to change urgently.’
And the hospital and trust are understood to be continuing to allow the female changing room to be accessed by anyone who identifies as a woman, including the colleague in question.
Each of the nurses are also claimed to have received letters from the trust with threats about speaking to the media.
A sign, firmly taped on to the door with rainbow colours across an NHS logo also appeared on the female changing room which said: ‘Inclusive changing space.’
In big red letters, it also said: ‘Do not remove this sign.’
The women’s case was given support in June by then-shadow health secretary Wes Streeting
The sign has since been taken down, but the nurses’ legal team claim no explanation has been given by management for this.
The nurses were then told in July that their ward manager’s office was being cleared out and would become a temporary locker room for anyone uncomfortable getting undressed in the female changing room.
This room only had one chair and a hook on the back of the door – and the nurses’ lawyers said those choosing to change in this room had to leave their belongings in piles on the floor, which they deemed an infection and security risk.
There are also privacy concerns, given the room also opens straight onto a busy ward corridor and is opposite a patient side room. The door has a key press lock, and whenever it is opened it exposes anyone already getting changed inside.
Harry Potter author JK Rowling has also spoken out in support of the Darlington nurses
Lockers have been provided in the last few weeks, but the nurses’ legal team claim there are not enough for all the women wanting to use the room and the space is limited.
They therefore argue that has humiliated the nurses and further isolated them from other staff.
The nurses have received hundreds of cards supporting them from women across the UK, with Harry Potter author JK Rowling among those backing their case.
One card said: ‘Thank you for your bravery and for making a stand to protect women and girls. We are all so grateful to you. The world is watching.’
Another stated: ‘Good luck with your case, you are all doing a fantastic job bringing this dreadful situation to public attention and standing up for the safety and dignity of all women and girls. You have an army of women at your back and we are fighting back against this dangerous ideology… you have massive support.’
Ford workers fought for equal pay and inspired the 2010 film Made in Dagenham (pictured)
And a third said: ‘Thank you for fighting for women everywhere in your struggle for dignity privacy and safety at work. Wishing you the very best of luck, and when it gets hard, remember there are so many women behind you.’
Responding to this support, the nurses said: ‘We have been overwhelmed and are truly grateful to the letters of support we have received from women across the country. Your support means the world to us and keeps us going.
‘We will not give in to any intimidation and bullying and will continue to stand for justice and for women and girls across the country in this matter.’
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: ‘This is a hospital where ideology has trumped biology. We call on Wes Streeting to intervene and protect and uphold biological reality in the NHS.’
A spokeswoman for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust told MailOnline: ‘Additional alternative arrangements have been put in place.
‘These include a private, lockable changing room and an office which has been converted into a locker room for the storage of belongings.’
And a Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman said: ‘Single sex spaces should be protected, including changing rooms.
‘The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care was horrified by the way these nurses were treated and is happy to meet with them.’