from Christian Concern
Christian nurse Jennifer Melle claims victory in the 10-month-long legal battle against her employer, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, who labelled her a ‘potential risk to the public’ for declining to use the preferred pronouns of a patient, a convicted paedophile who wanted to identify as a woman.
In response, the patient repeatedly racially abused Jennifer, but bizarrely, Jennifer was the one who was suspended for 10 months from her job to be investigated and disciplined by the Trust, who also reported her to the professional regulator.
The first investigation concerned Jennifer’s refusal to use a patient’s preferred female pronouns; the second was triggered by her decision to speak publicly about her experience.
Now, however, the Trust has cleared Jennifer of the accusation of improperly publicising the patient’s identity. The disciplinary panel made no finding of misconduct and reinstated her to her job in February.
The Trust has also confirmed that it has issued a written warning to the patient that threatening and racially offensive language will not be tolerated and he may be banned from the Trust’s premises.
Finally, just days before the trial of Jennifer’s claim in Croydon Employment Tribunal, which was due to commence on 13 April, the Trust agreed to settle her claims on the terms legally required to remain confidential.
Despite the settlement, Jennifer’s battle will continue as she faces two ongoing NMC investigations, lengthy processes that can take years to conclude and have the power to restrict or even end her professional career.