Latest news with #RoseHenderson
Telegraph
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
NHS trust embroiled in trans row sends Pride calendar to staff
An NHS trust being sued by nurses for letting trans women share female changing rooms has been criticised for sending a Pride calendar to staff. County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has come under fire for producing the item which celebrates 'polyamory' and 'pansexuality'. Eight nurses are suing the trust for sexual discrimination and sexual harassment after opposing a decision to let Rose Henderson, who was born male, use women-only facilities. The nurse, who was born male, lives as a woman but does not have a gender recognition certificate (GRC) and therefore has not legally changed sex. NHS England has since intervened in their case, telling Darlington Memorial Hospital to act 'with speed' to provide male, female and gender-neutral changing rooms. However, the decision to send out a Pride calendar has stoked more speculation about the trust's priorities. The Times reports the digital document, which is 36 pages long, was sent out on June 2 and marks a different theme for each day of the month. One of them is 'safe spaces', alongside flags for those who are gay, lesbian, polyamorous, asexual, bisexual, transgender or a 'straight ally'. Drag is another theme scheduled for celebration, with a picture of Dame Edna Everage, played by the late comedian Barry Humphries. Works by 'prevalent LGBTQ+ authors' like Oscar Wilde and James Baldwin are also recommended in the document alongside a list of LGBTQ+ films. Sexuality being 'forced on' staff The Times reports the calendar was produced by the trust's LGBTQ+ network. But it has been labelled 'divisive' by some staff, as one female hospital employee told the newspaper: 'Why should an individual's sexuality or kinks be not only brought into the workplace but actively promoted and forced on staff? 'Following the Supreme Court ruling, it is incredibly insensitive and hostile to be trying to 'educate' staff on these issues. 'This exposes that County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has an extreme agenda and are keen to be seen as 'inclusive' while continuing to exclude women and ignoring their rights to basic dignity.' A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said: 'The calendar was developed and shared internally, during June which is nationally recognised as Pride Month, as part of the work led by our LGBTQ+ staff network, using time allocated through our staff network group framework. 'It is part of a wider programme of activity throughout the year which includes marking a range of national and international recognition days and public awareness campaigns. 'The calendar was intended to be a supportive, optional resource for staff. It was shared in a gentle and non-directive way, with no call to action. As an organisation, we are committed to creating a workplace where all colleagues feel safe, supported and respected.'
Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
NHS trust breaking law over trans row, says Royal College of Nursing
An NHS trust at the centre of a trans changing room row has been accused of breaking the law by not providing single-sex facilities. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) accused the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust of breaching workplace health and safety law by not prohibiting a trans nurse from using female changing rooms. The union intervened amid a legal battle between the trust and eight of its nurses, who are opposing its decision to allow Rose Henderson, who was born male, to use women-only facilities. In a letter seen by The Telegraph, the RCN in March pointed to the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, which require all changing rooms to be male or female-only except when they are 'single lockable rooms'. 'The RCN expects the trust to comply with these statutory provisions and provide single-sex changing rooms without delay,' the letter reads. The nurses are suing the NHS trust for sexual discrimination and sexual harassment after Henderson was permitted to use a female changing room. The nurse, who was born male, lives as a woman but does not have a gender recognition certificate (GRC) and therefore has not legally changed sex. Changing in converted office The eight nurses, who have formed the Darlington Nurses Union (DNU), have been forced to change in a converted office since they first raised concerns about the situation in 2023. The nurses, who are being supported by the Christian Legal Centre, were initially told by hospital bosses they needed to be 're-educated, broaden their mindset and become more inclusive'. In the RCN's letter, Sarah Dodsworth, the union's northern regional director, told the NHS trust to change the gender-critical nurses' changing room into a third 'gender-neutral changing space'. That would then allow the nurses to return to the female-only changing room. 'It would seem reasonable that the alternative changing room provision that some women are currently using, would be the obvious choice for a gender neutral changing space,' Ms Dodsworth wrote. 'It is our understanding that the above provisions outweigh any local or national guidance regarding the issue,' the letter said. The following week, the trust republished its 'transitioning in the workplace policy' without any changes to policies allowing transgender women to change in female changing rooms. Bethany Hutchison, president of the DNU, said the trust had not complied with the RCN's letter. 'The law is the law' 'We appreciate the letter from the Royal College of Nursing, but it has been a month now and there has been no sign of any action, quite the opposite in fact,' she said. 'We recognise how captured the NHS has been by extreme Stonewall policies, but unfortunately the law is the law. There can be no excuses for any further dragging of feet.' The RCN's intervention in the Darlington case was made before the Supreme Court ruled that transgender women were not legally women. Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, added: 'NHS Trusts must now revise policies that have prioritised gender identity over biological reality often at the expense of female staff and patients.' The tribunal is due to be heard in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in October.
The Independent
02-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Nurses' action over trans colleague using changing rooms to be heard in autumn
A group of nurses who are challenging their health trust's policy over allowing a trans colleague to use the female changing rooms at work are to have their case heard at an employment tribunal in the autumn. The eight nurses are taking action against County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust after a colleague, Rose Henderson, who was born male but who identifies as a woman, was allowed to use the women's changing facilities at Darlington Memorial Hospital. They have filed the claim on the grounds of sexual harassment, discrimination, victimisation and breaches of the right to a private life, under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Seven of the nurses were at a preliminary hearing at Newcastle Tribunal Centre on Wednesday, where a judge considered an application by the trust to delay the hearing from its trial date of June. Tribunal Judge Stuart Robinson said: 'These are important proceedings. 'The issues are complex.' The trust claimed a postponement was necessary to allow more time for an internal investigation to be completed. Judge Robinson said the hearings will take four weeks, not the original estimate of three, given around 30 witnesses are expected to give evidence. He scheduled the case to be heard from October 20. Ahead of the hearing, nurse Bethany Hutchison said outside court: 'We are nurses who love our jobs and our patients and only want to be afforded the dignity of getting dressed and undressed for work without a man present. 'I would like to remind everyone that we are doing this for the safety and dignity of every woman and girl across society and that we will continue to fight these unlawful policies. 'Thank you again to our many supporters. 'We see you and hear you and are delighted to stand with you.' The nurses are being supported by the Christian Legal Centre.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nurses' action over trans colleague using changing rooms to be heard in autumn
A group of nurses who are challenging their health trust's policy over allowing a trans colleague to use the female changing rooms at work are to have their case heard at an employment tribunal in the autumn. The eight nurses are taking action against County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust after a colleague, Rose Henderson, who was born male but who identifies as a woman, was allowed to use the women's changing facilities at Darlington Memorial Hospital. They have filed the claim on the grounds of sexual harassment, discrimination, victimisation and breaches of the right to a private life, under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Seven of the nurses were at a preliminary hearing at Newcastle Tribunal Centre on Wednesday, where a judge considered an application by the trust to delay the hearing from its trial date of June. Tribunal Judge Stuart Robinson said: 'These are important proceedings. 'The issues are complex.' The trust claimed a postponement was necessary to allow more time for an internal investigation to be completed. Judge Robinson said the hearings will take four weeks, not the original estimate of three, given around 30 witnesses are expected to give evidence. He scheduled the case to be heard from October 20. Ahead of the hearing, nurse Bethany Hutchison said outside court: 'We are nurses who love our jobs and our patients and only want to be afforded the dignity of getting dressed and undressed for work without a man present. 'I would like to remind everyone that we are doing this for the safety and dignity of every woman and girl across society and that we will continue to fight these unlawful policies. 'Thank you again to our many supporters. 'We see you and hear you and are delighted to stand with you.' The nurses are being supported by the Christian Legal Centre.
