"Darlington Nurses" vs County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust Tribunal Thread 3

[AuthorisedCat]

Link to Thread 1, 7-Oct to 23-Oct; pre-hearing discussion, evidence from KD (Day 1) and BH (Day 2).

Link to Thread 2
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5432103-darlington-nurses-vs-county-durham-and-darlington-nhs-trust-tribunal-thread-2

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. 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 and at Christian Concern who are supporting the nurses via the CLC.
The hearing started on October 20th, with evidence starting on October 22nd and is scheduled to last 3 weeks. To view the hearing online, requests for access had to be made by October 17th. The hearing is being live tweeted by Tribunal Tweets who have background to this case on their substack. An alternative to X is to use Nitter: nitter.net/tribunaltweets or nitter.poast.org/tribunaltweets
The Judge made clear at the start of the public hearing on Day 1 that only TT or press have permission to tweet. If online observers see/hear something in the court that isn’t reported by TT, we don’t mention it until the next time there’s a break. This is a very cautious approach to avoid any accusations of “live reporting” on MN. Commentary on the content of TT tweets is fine as soon as they’re posted on X.
Key people:
C/Ns - Claimants, the Darlington nurses
R/T/Trust - Respondent, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
J/EJ – Judge/Employment Judge
NF - Niazi Fetto KC, barrister for claimants
SC - Simon Cheetham, KC, barrister for respondents
RH - Rose Henderson, trans identifying nurse
CG – Clare Gregory, ward manager
KD – Karen Danson, first claimant to give evidence.
BH – Bethany Hutchison, second claimant to give evidence
AH – Alistair Hutchison, husband of Bethany
Other abbreviations:
WFTCHTJ – Waiting For The Conference Host To Join
ET - Employment Tribunal
DMH/H – Hospital, Darlington Memorial Hospital
CR/CF - changing room or facilities
IX - internal investigation
XX – cross examination

Set up very quickly!

This witness is making me angry now. He hasn’t tried to understand the female experience at all.

AT I've no reason to believe that Rose any different to having anyone larger than them in the CR. Sorry if I dont understand yr point. NF Yr workforce is diverse and employees incl those of diff cultural backgrounds AT Men and W

NF If for cultural reasons a F cant be w men, that cld incr distress? AT Yes, but we;re not discussing religion or belief here and know of no complaints re this NF Fear and distress. But a W might be forbidden from even mild state of undress w a man

Hmm, i have to ask: would the Trust have pulled their finger out if the objection was from a Muslim, say?

Karen Danson, claimant, gave evidence on Wednesday 22 October 2025.
Bethany Hutchison, claimant, gave evidence on Thursday 23 October 2025.
Mr Hutchinson, gave evidence on Thursday 23 October 2025. But only to confirm his witness statement.
Carly Hoy, claimant, gave evidence on Friday 24 October 2025, morning session.
Jane Peveller, claimant, gave evidence on Friday 24 October 2025, morning session.
Mary Annice Grundy, claimant, gave evidence on Friday 24 October 2025, afternoon session and then gave very brief evidence to include a correction on Monday 27 October 2025, morning session.
Tracy Hooper, claimant, gave evidence on Monday 27 October 2025, morning session.
Siobhan Sinclair gave evidence remotely on Monday 27 October 2025, morning session.
Sharron Trevarrow gave evidence remotely on Monday 27 October 2025, morning session.
Lisa Lockey, claimant, gave evidence on Monday 27 October 2025, morning session.
Jane Shields gave evidence on Tuesday 28 October 2025, morning session.
Kirsten Coutts gave evidence on Tuesday 28 October 2025, morning session.
Andrew Thacker currently giving evidence on Tuesday 28 October 2025, from morning session and expected to continue until the end of the day.

He is making me very angry.

Good god, he's not aware of any complaints in relation to women being in distress about men in the changing rooms. That is why you are sitting on that chair!!!!! This is the result of those exact complaints!

Thanks!

My keyboard may not survive this witness.

NF Might she have hightened fear and distress AT I understand what yr saying but not aware of any complaints raised of this cultural nature NF Do u accept multiple Cx from F employees are sharing CR w a male AT Accept 26 employees complained NF And others too? AT Not aware

As BC: it would be unkind of me to ask, etc…

He hasn't given this a moment's thought. His default response to how women feel is to turn the spotlight and say what about the men?!!😡

Out of interest was an equality impact assessment carried out?

No wonder SC has been on edge this morning.

Bugger, sorry, I was too slow to hit post with my new thread all cued up. Will ask MN to delete, and thank you to @AuthorisedCat for stepping in

NF Have there been similar? AT Not aware of any NF Did u look into whether had been others? AT What do u mean? NF Is this new or others as well? AT Not aware of any other prior to this letter NF Did u look into it Not personally

Yeah! 😂

So yet another man leading up HR for the Respondents who has just rocked up to the Employment Tribunal without having bothered his pretty little head with doing an ounce of preparation or a modicum of thought.

He is looking all around for an answer.

The thread just ran away with us once this knobhead took the stand.

He’s a very fetching shade of red

NF Why not? AT Was dealing w this Cx NF was asking Qs re yr workforce. The more freely /easily as matter of practice can enter F only space the greater risk of inapprop activity by M to the W inside. Do u agree? AT we work in healthcare. Staff are expected to follow policy and T&Cs

I imagine thread 4 will be up soon if it carries on like this.

Good.