"Darlington Nurses" vs County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust Tribunal Thread

[ThreeWordHarpy]

Five nurses working at Darlington Memorial Hospital have filed a legal case suing their employer, an NHS trust, for sexual harassment and sex discrimination. The nurses object to sharing the women’s changing facilities with a male colleague, “Rose”, who:

• identifies as female
• has not undergone any physical or hormonal transition and has full male genitalia
• has cited inclusivity policies
• is backed by the trust’s HR department
• has been granted access to a single-sex changing room for women.

The NHS trust’s HR department dismissed the nurses’ concerns, stating they should “broaden their mindset” and “be educated”. More details can be found at Sex Matters

The hearing is due to start on October 20th and is scheduled to last 3 weeks. To view the hearing online email: [email protected] [[email protected]] requesting remote access to the case of 2501192/2024 Hutchinson and others Vs County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, starting 20th October. Also include your full name and your role in the hearing (eg member of the public or observer). Note, it is likely you will need the same full name and email address to log into the hearing, and the name will be visible to other observers.

The hearing will be live tweeted by https://x.com/tribunaltweets. An alternative to Twitter is to use Nitter: nitter.net/tribunaltweets or nitter.poast.org/tribunaltweets. Tribunal Tweets have more background to this case on their substack, including links to their coverage of the earlier hearings.

In earlier hearings reported at http://archive.today/nh5v9, the claimants were supported by the Christian Legal Centre and represented by Pavel Stroilov (solicitor) and Bruno Quentaville (barrister). The respondents were represented by Simon Cheetham KC. We do not know yet if the same representation will be in place for the October hearing

Background information from Christian Concern who are supporting the nurses via the CLC.

The public hearing starts tomorrow @sniggerly the tribunal started yesterday but it was reading and case management (in private)

When they send out the online links I’ve no doubt there will be a chorus of “got it” on here. So no need to worry just yet. Also, if there’s been high demand for access they may be working through some technical details (e.g. splitting us into different “rooms”) and sending out the emails in batches.

Are there any pics of the fragrant Rose?

Apparently this is him.

https://x.com/wingsscotland/status/1896304543241208206?s=61

Ms Hoy said: “We’re not asking for anything outrageous, just the basic right to get changed for work without a bloke in the room. It’s common sense, and it’s shocking we’ve had to go this far to fight for it. We care deeply about our patients and our jobs, but we won’t be bullied into silence. This is about dignity, safety, and sticking up for women.”

Fabulous quote from the Express feature linked above.

edit sorry it was for Kelly v Leonardo UK Limited

oops apparently not.... Same as Ikky

I just received an email saying I can't join as there was a deadline for applications (Friday) which I didn't know was in place.

Hopefully I can follow along on here and Tribunal Tweets.

Sorry about that - I don’t think anyone here knew there was a deadline. But for future cases, best to get your application in as soon as you know the details. Hearings with a lot of public interest can end up with online observers numbers limited due to technical issues - whether that’s due to the IT capabilities or the number of clerks needed to manage and monitor the online observers is never clear.

Just got my link!

OK I have literally just now had the details through to be able to join the hearing tomorrow. The email is titled Your link to join the hearing tomorrow - 2501192/2024
The link and pin are in an attached document to the email.

Based on the documents I've just received it looks like there was a deadline of 17th October.

Links have started to arrive.

Looks like Niazi Fetto, KC for claimants

NF - chambers.com/lawyer/niazi-fetto-kc-uk-bar-14:228026

Got mine!

Where did you get the info about Niazi Fetto? I’m reading his bio at his chambers https://www.2tg.co.uk/profile/niazi-fetto-kc/ and am feeling a lot better about the claimants’ representation in court.

My link has arrived too. Glad I'm in but the retrospective unpublished deadline for applications seems rather unfair.

Has TT got details of counsel? Reading his bio, Fetto seems suitably senior and experienced, thank goodness. Hope he's got the right employment chops.

Re the unpublished deadline - I think the Tribunal Service learned painful lessons during the Peggie case and they don't issue more log ins than they are prepared to support.
We have advocated they live stream on YouTube but got nowhere.

I got my link too. 😁I will have to swap between them. Although the usual at the start of these Tribunals is massive delays and waiting around.

@Justabaker It would be so much easier if they put it on YouTube, I have just been watching the morning session of Allison Bailey v Stonewall on there and it is great.

I too have received details for this tomorrow. The attachment mentions an app if joining by phone, is this a new thing? I've previously managed fine using the usual link on a phone, minus some random disconnects, and I'd rather not bother with more bloody apps if I can avoid it.

Got my link! I have to stay at home tomorrow anyway as my boiler has broken so I've got to wait in for the gas engineer. I hate that these women have been put through this, but I think the court of public opinion is much more on their side this time.

Got my link too. Do we know what time it is starting?

@OnAShooglyPeg , I could access the Fife case on my tablet/ipad in February, but had to use a desktop for later hearings and also Kelly v Leonardo. I don’t own one, so had to displace DH from his study on those days.

I’m very pleased that I’ll be able see Darlington on my tablet and have downloaded the app in preparation.

This is what my mother used to call an embarrassment of riches. Which do I focus on?

It says 10am on the joining link document, and not to try joining more than 10 minutes before it is due to start.

I'm out all day for meetings so will be catching up tonight. Hope it goes well today.

Got my link, will try iPad. First time actually viewing live.

i woke up thinking about how all those women just wanting to do their work and have dignity while having to get undressed to facilitate that work have to go through the wait & the ordeal. It’s just awful for them & their families.