A Christian nurse who was disciplined for misgendering a transgender paedophile patient has won a settlement with the NHS.
Jennifer Melle was labelled a “potential risk to the public” after she spoke out about the incident, which happened in May 2024. She was racially abused for calling the prisoner “mister” in a conversation with colleagues.
Melle has now claimed a victory in a 10-month-long legal battle, after Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust settled her claim days before it was set to be heard before an employment tribunal. The hearing was scheduled for Monday, where Melle alleged harassment, discrimination, victimisation, and breaches of freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
She said: “I cannot discuss the terms of the settlement, but generally I am glad that my employer has finally decided to extend an olive branch to me. I look forward to being able to focus on the job I love instead of defending myself against various bizarre accusations.
“It should never have come to this. No nurse or other medical professionals should ever have to face what I have faced simply for telling the truth, doing their job, and reporting racist abuse and physical threats from a patient.
“I am grateful to the Lord Jesus, to my legal team at the Christian Legal Centre who have stood by me from the very beginning, when, for example, the Royal College of Nursing abandoned me. My ordeal matters not only for me, but for every nurse who should be able to practise according to conscience, biological reality, and basic safeguarding principles without fear.”
Melle, who had worked in the hospital for 12 years, returned to work in February. But she still faces two ongoing fitness-to-practice investigations from the Nursing and Midwifery Council. One claim is over the “misgendering” case, with another about her speaking to the media about her treatment. She said this “should alarm everyone who cares about fairness, safeguarding, and free speech in our NHS”.
The nurse has been supported by the Christian Legal Centre throughout, with chief executive Andrea Williams calling the case “one of the most concerning we have ever seen”.
“Jennifer has shown remarkable courage. We will stand with her until these remaining injustices are fully resolved”, Williams added.
A spokesperson for Epsom and St Helier Hospitals NHS Trust said: “Racial abuse of our staff is never acceptable, nor is discussing a patient's private medical information publicly.
“We are sorry that Miss Melle had this experience, and we issued a written warning to this patient, but we expect all staff to maintain patient confidentiality at all times.”
Equalities minister Bridget Phillipson told Melle that no one should ever have to endure the racial abuse she did, and all must be free to hold their beliefs in the workplace, during a meeting between the two in February.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch warned that more healthcare workers could experience the same treatment as Melle for affirming “the basic truth of biological sex”, unless action is taken. She described the treatment as a “witch-hunt.”