Muslim NHS worker said her discrimination case victory over bosses who allowed trans woman to use single sex toilets as a win 'for all women'

Published: 17:33, 16 May 2026 | Updated: 17:36, 16 May 2026 An NHS England employee has described winning a discrimination case against bosses who allowed a trans woman to use single–sex toilets as a win 'for all women'. The Muslim woman, who was granted anonymity at her employment tribunal, suffered from post–traumatic stress disorder after a historic sexual assault, and said she had found it 'very alarming' and 'quite triggering' to learn she would have to share the women's bathrooms at work with a male colleague who was transitioning to become a woman. The policy advisor, who has worked for the Government body for nine years, said she was 'gobsmacked' to learn that it was NHS England policy for trans employees to use facilities that corresponded with their gender, rather than their biological sex. But after making a complaint to her line manager, the case ended up before a tribunal, which ruled last week that she had suffered indirect discrimination and harassment. She is expected to receive up to £25,000 in compensation. The mother–of–one told The Mail on Sunday of her relief that her ordeal, which caused her stress and sleepless nights, was over. 'This is a massive weight off my shoulders,' she said. 'It has been going on for three and a half years and has taken countless hours at night–time. While I've been feeding my baby, I've been awake and taking notes on my phone. 'It's definitely had this huge strain on me, but I had to take a leap of faith with the courts and hope that the common sense just prevails and it has. It's for all women as well. 'Being successful on the indirect discrimination related to sex, covers all women, including women with PTSD, including women with faith, and also women with no trauma and no faith or no religion. So, I just feel it's such a huge win. I'm very happy with that.' A Muslim NHS worker has won a discrimination case against her bosses who allowed a trans woman to use single–sex toilets (file image) The case is the latest in a string of cases brought against the NHS over its guidance on the use of single–sex spaces. Eight nurses at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust won a landmark tribunal against their bosses in January after it was found they had created a 'hostile, humiliating and degrading environment' by forcing them to share a changing room with a trans colleague. And last month, devoutly Christian nurse Jennifer Melle won a settlement against Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals Trust after she was disciplined for misgendering a transgender patient who racially abused her on a ward. The Supreme Court last year clarified that, under the Equality Act, the legal definition of a woman was biological sex. This has implications for workplaces which allow transgender people to use facilities designed to be single sex, such as toilets and changing rooms. In the latest case, the woman was asked to attend a Trans Awareness session by her NHS England bosses in 2022 after a male colleague – a father of two – announced he would be transitioning. After studying the organisation's policy, she discovered the colleague would be entitled to share the women's bathrooms and changing rooms. She raised it with her line manager, who was supportive, and made an official complaint in 2024. Her six–day case was heard at Leeds Employment Tribunal in March. 'I've been just absolutely marinated in stress hormones,' she added. 'I have had sleepless nights, staring at the ceiling, thinking: 'Am I absolutely mad doing this, taking my own employer to court?' She said the tension left her with 'the worst migraine ever'. But she added: 'It's a good result. I'm just so relieved, so happy.' A remedy hearing, to determine how much compensation she is due and whether recommendations should be issued to NHS England, will be held in August. Her solicitor, Elizabeth McGlone, managing partner at Didlaw, said: 'It's whether or not NHS England now has the guts to change its position or still wait for the EHRC guidance and be lily–livered about it.' The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) submitted updated draft guidance to the government on single–sex spaces in April, and it is expected to be laid before Parliament imminently. Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson said it would be published after the local elections, which were held earlier this month. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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