Two nurses who were reprimanded after speaking out against trans ideology have urged Andy Burnham’s Government to immediately publish its NHS guidance on same-sex spaces.
Bethany Hutchison, from Darlington, and Jennifer Melle, from Croydon, both claimed legal victories against the NHS after separate incidents involving transgender people.
Ms Hutchison, who is now setting up her own nursing union, was found to have been harassed and discriminated against by being required to share a changing room with a transgender woman.
Meanwhile, Ms Melle received a financial settlement after calling a trans paedophile “Mr”
Despite the Supreme Court ruling last year that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex, the two nurses now want Labour to take action in releasing its national guidance.
Speaking at a fringe event at the Conservative Party Conference, Ms Melle said: “We need urgent, clear national guidance… and policies must recognise freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of beliefs and expressions.”
She also called for protection to be given to whistleblowers who speak out against trans ideology in the NHS.
“As a nation, we are the voice, and we need to speak up, and the Government needs to hear our voices, because we are the frontline,” Ms Melle concluded.
Bethany Hutchison, from Darlington, and Jennifer Melle, from Croydon, both claimed legal victories against the NHS after separate incidents involving transgender people
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GB NEWS
Ms Hutchison also revealed she had recently met with a Labour minister to ask when the national guidance was expected to be published.
“We’ve been repeatedly told that the new NHS guidance is coming, yet when I recently met with the health minister, we were told there is still no timetable or clear plan for its introduction,” she said.
Ms Hutchison added: “The question is whether the Government is prepared to act. Will it ensure that public institutions implement the policy?
“Will it protect women? Will it respect freedom of belief? And will it ensure that nurses can raise concerns without risking their careers?”
Andy Burnham is being accused of being too slow on the NHS guidance
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PAThe two nurses thanked Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, Shadow Business Secretary Claire Coutinho and Shadow Equalities Minister Joy Morrisey for standing by them and taking the fight to Labour.
The national NHS guidance on single-sex spaces remains unpublished despite assurances from Labour ministers.
Health Minister Karin Smyth confirmed in June that NHS England was reviewing the guidance to ensure it reflected the Supreme Court judgement and the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) new Code of Practice.
Meanwhile, the EHRC updated its Code of Practice on August 5.
Ms Melle has been supported in her case by Darlington nurses Bethany Hutchison and Lisa Lockey, and Fife nurse Sandie Peggie | PA
However, the guidance from the equalities’ watchdog does not provide a comprehensive framework for NHS employers.
The Department for Health & Social Care insisted the guidance had been drafted on September 21, adding it will be published “imminently, in due course, and in the near future”.
A spokesman said: The NHS will follow the law. New guidance has been drafted and will be published imminently.
“That remains the case, that is what we have consistently said, and it is simply not true (she) said anything different when she met these two individuals.”
Trans activists took to Parliament Square to protest the latest ruling by the Supreme Court on the definition of a woman | GETTY
However, Labour remains in a difficult position over the ruling after left-wing councils were allowed to defy the Government’s position, while unions threatened to boycott the party’s women’s conference over the trans ban.
A large number of backbench Labour MPs continue to argue that trans women are women, despite the Supreme Court ruling.
An NHS spokesman added: “The NHS will publish approved new guidance for the health service on single-sex accommodation shortly, in line with other public sector bodies.
“In the meantime, hospitals should be acting within the principles set out in the EHRC code to ensure all patients are cared for with dignity and respect.”