Darlington Nurses 'delighted' after winning huge payout in NHS row over trans colleague

The President of Darlington Nursing Union has rejoiced at her major "victory for women and girls" after taking an NHS Trust to a tribunal over a transgender colleague.

Speaking to GB News, Bethany Hutchison says she is "delighted" after winning her fight against the trust alongside several of the now infamous Darlington Nurses.

Seven members of the day surgery unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital brought a claim against County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust after a transgender colleague was allowed to use the female changing rooms.

After a lengthy three-year battle for justice, the Trust has now formally apologised to the seven women and will pay £187,000 in damages.

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Speaking to GB News following their win, Ms Hutchison said that the nurses were "ostracised" by their employer after raising concerns about their biologically male colleague sharing their changing room.

She said: "The women who raised the concern were actually ostracised from the female changing room, and we were put in a converted office and we were told to stay in there.

"We are delighted that the policy has been removed, that they are going to commit to actually having single sex facilities, and that it is a vast amount of money that has been paid out, which sadly could have been used to improve the NHS, could have been used to employ more nurses and improved facilities.

"And fortunately, they decided to fight us on something that actually is not a complex issue. It was a very, very simple thing that should have been done differently."

Asked by host Martin Daubney whether she believes their case could "set a new benchmark for common sense elsewhere across the country", Ms Hutchison called on Health Secretary James Murray for his support.

She said: "I think that's what we're hoping. We're hoping that this sets a precedent across the country and in various sectors, but specifically within the NHS.

"And we do hope that, and hope that James Murray is paying attention and will support us in this."

Ms Hutchison stressed that they continued to fight the lengthy battle against the trust "for women and girls" in a bid to protect single-sex spaces.

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She told GB News: "It's amazing, it's a terrific win, but we've done this for all women and girls and specifically staff that have been too afraid to actually speak up, so we are absolutely delighted."

Following the tribunal, the judge ruled that the NHS Trust "harassed" and "violated the nurses' dignity" by allowing a trans colleague into their changing room.

The seven victorious nurses, Bethany Hutchison, Lisa Lockey, Karen Danson, Tracy Hooper, Annice Grundy, Carly Hoy and Jane Peveller will share the £187,000 payout from the Trust.

The sum does not include the trust's own legal costs, which will be decided at a future hearing.

As part of the settlement, the Trust formally apologised to the nurses in separate letters. The letters said: "We recognise that we have a responsibility to provide a safe, respectful and inclusive working environment for everyone.

"The tribunal’s findings make clear that we did not get this right for you, for which the Trust expresses its sincere apologies.

"We also acknowledge that in our decision making, we did not adequately consider your concerns, formally or informally and we sincerely regret that we were unable to get this right.

"In light of the judgment, we have reviewed our policies and the changes that have already been put in place and will consider what facilities are required to follow the tribunal’s findings in a way that is respectful to all of our colleagues."

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