Thousands of people have signed a petition in support of a group of nurses from Darlington Memorial Hospital in an ongoing trans row. The petition, started by religious organisation Christian Concern, has been signed by 25,000 people, and calls for leaders of political parties "ensure women have access to single-sex changing rooms and toilets". This comes as signs have gone up in changing rooms around the hospital labelling them as "inclusive changing spaces" and asking staff not to remove them.
The row between nurses and Darlington Memorial Hospital leadership broke out earlier this year when a group of nurses wrote a letter to health chiefs unhappy that a trans woman was allowed to use the women's changing rooms. Bethany Hutchison, Lisa Lockey, Annice Grundy, Tracey Hooper and Joanne Bradbury spoke out publicly last week as they believe the Trust is hoping controversy will "blow over". The group claims they were told they needed to be ‘educated’ and ‘compromise’, and after releasing their story anonymously last month, the nurses say that changing room policy has not changed.
Wes Streeting, the Shadow Health secretary, has already said he is ‘horrified’ that a group of nurses in Darlington have been left feeling "threatened and intimidated" after launching a landmark employment tribunal case. A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust said they understand that media coverage of the "complex issue" might have been "unsettling" for staff. They.
