Thread by @tribunaltweets

We will shortly be live tweeting day - of evidence from the hearing of Ms B Hutchison & others v County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust being held at Newcastle Employment Tribunal.

A group of nurses from Darlington Memorial Hospital are bringing this ET against their employers, alleging sexual harassment and sex discrimination

It concerns the Trust’s policy of allowing a male colleague, identifying as a woman named Rose Henderson, to use the female changing room.

The nurses argue that sharing the changing facilities with Henderson has caused them distress. One nurse, a survivor of sexual abuse, reported experiencing panic attacks.

After raising concerns with hospital management, they were informed they needed to be “re-educated” to be more 'inclusive' and offered an office space to change in instead of the female changing room.

Our full coverage can be found at our Substack

We report what we hear in good faith but do not provide a verbatim record of proceedings.tribunaltweets.substack.com/p/eight-nurses…

Abbreviations:
C/Ns - Claimants - the Darlington nurses
NF - Niazi Fetto KC, barrister for Claimants
MP - Michael Phillips, solicitor for claimants
PS - Pavel Stroilov, C’s solicitor, preliminary hearing
R/T/Trust - Respondent, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

SC - Simon Cheetham, KC, barrister for respondents
J/REJ - Regional Employment Judge Robertson
EJ - Employment Judge
ET - Employment Tribunal
RH - Rose Henderson, trans identifying nurse
DMH/H/Hospital - Darlington Memorial Hospital

The Claimant Nurses:
KD - Karen Danson
BH - Bethany Hutchison
CH - Carly Hoy
JP - Jane Peveller
MG - Mary Annice Grundy
TH - Tracey Hooper
ST - Sharen Trevarrow
LL - Lisa Lockey

Other names:
CG - Claire Gregory, Ward Manager
SS - Siobhan Sinclair, Housekeeper & Well-being officer, at DMH, now retired
SW - Sue Williams, HR at Trust
TA - Tracy Atkinson, HR at Trust
AT - Andrew Thacker, Director of Workforce and Organisational Development
DP - David Purdue, Joint Regional Chief Nurse for North East and Yorkshire
GH - Gill Hunt, Interim Joint Regional Chief Nurse for NHS England in North East and Yorkshire

ST - Stephen Twist, Darlington Trust’s Audit and Governance Committee, an elected Public Governor
RS - Professor Richard Scothon, Chairman of Trust
AM - Andrew Moore, Head of Workforce Experience at Trust
JR - Jody Robinson
SW - Sue Williams, Human Resources Business Partner

More Abbreviations:
TG - Transgender
TW - Transwoman
CR/CF - Changing room or changing facilities
SSS - Single Sex Spaces
WS - Witness Statement
WA - Whatsapp
CLC - Christian Legal Centre
SEAL - Surgical Elective Admission Lounge
DSU - Day Surgery Unit
EQA/EA -Equality Act 2010

This will be Day 10 of the tribunal

Still waiting for session to start

We don’t know the reason for the long delay this morning. Still waiting for the session to begin.

We apologise for the continuing delay and will report as soon as we hear anything

Rose Henderson being sworn in

Judge reassuring re stressful situation.
RH apologises for cough.
J you and me both.

SC p 205 your witness statement. Confirm details true ?
RH yes
NF Good afternoon. You studied at Teeside graduated July 22
RH October 22 I started at work. My course also part of time at hospital.

NF have you followed the evidence? Familiar with TITWP policy?
RH not all of it but aware during complaints
NF You used the female CR. Some gender employees used personal CR. Did you think of this?
RH no
NF Did anyone offer?
No

NF CR used by about 300 women. Some upset
RH never occurred a risk or embarrassed
NF frightened? Never occurred to you?
RH no

NF users changing to underwear - you first became aware of issues 2023 August. Also March 24 you became aware women upset
RH August I became aware. Lee became aware.
NF at both junctures, you decided to continue ?
RH uh hum

NF when you saw number of signatures to letter ?
RH May or June 24
NF your managers supported you. Also support from Andrew Moore.
RH after press story. A welfare meeting
NF Helen Coppack also provided you with support?
FH yes she was a contact

NF did you seek to understand their upset?
RH I wonder why after so long id been using CR
NF did you see the text of the letter? Meeting with Coppack and Moore. You discussed concerns
RH yes

NF rarely required for you to go to DSU
RH anaesthetic placements 2021/22.
NF more calls, getting trolleys
NF you made a point of coming more to DSU ?
RH no

NF you say you avoided as to ‘avoid bigotry and hatred against me’
RH I was looking for trolleys.
NF But you say had a reason for just turning up on the ward
RH don’t recall it happened many times.

NF ‘looks’ ?
RH I didn’t know who any staff were.
NF you ended up at DSU
RH I went range of places and coordinator suggested that.
NF why not go elsewhere?
RH DSU closer

NF you say I went to SEAL and there was a nurse there.
RH she took me to ward 14. I was accompanied by the nurse. I was given one

NF we’ve heard before that you asked for a consent form and she said we don’t have paediatric ones .
RH no I got one
NF you came back with Ms Henderson. Same day you met two DSU nurses in corridor and again gave them a hard stare.
RH I had to reason to give them a hard stare

NF some weeks later, posters were put up. Please go to interview you gave during investigation. (Reads)

NF 18 November 2024. You were asked about the posters. You say the first I saw was a photo on social media. You say I rang and asked for it to be taken down. Did you know who put poster up. You say good intentions?
RH I don’t know who but there were a few people who were supportive.
J we’ll have lunch now. Resume at 2pm. Orderly exit from the room please.

Typo above - should read RH I had no reason to give them a hard stare

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