"Darlington Nurses" vs County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust Tribunal Thread 5

[ThreeWordHarpy]

Thread 1, 7-Oct to 23-Oct; pre-hearing discussion, KD (day 1 of evidence) and BH (day 2).
Thread 2, 23-Oct to 28-Oct; BH (day 2), CH, JP, MG (day 3&4), TH, SS, ST, LL (day 4), JS, AT (day 5)
Thread 3, 28-Oct to 29-Oct, AT (day 5&6), TA (day 6&7)
Thread 4, 29-Oct to 31-Oct, TA, AM (day 7) JB (day 8)

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 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 Seamus Sweeney
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
SW - Sue Williams, NHS Trust HR
KD – Karen Danson, first claimant to give evidence.
BH – Bethany Hutchison, claimant
AH – Alistair Hutchison, husband of Bethany
CH – Carly Hoy, claimant
JP – Jane Peveller, claimant
MG – Mary Anne (aka Annice) Grundy, claimant
TH – Tracy Hooper, claimant
SS – Siobhan Sinclair, witness for the claimants, retired from Trust
ST – Sharron Trevarrow, witness for the claimants, retired from Trust, former housekeeper and wellbeing officer
LL – Lisa Lockey, claimant
JP – Professor Jo Phoenix, expert witness
JS – Jane Shields, witness for the claimants
AT - Andrew Thacker, NHS trust Head of HR
TA – Tracy Atkinson, NHS trust HR.
AM – Andrew Moore, NHS Head of Workforce Experience
JB – Jillian Bailey, NHS Workforce Experience Manager

Ah.
I've just asked my old pal Douglas. He says it's 42.

I think the witness is Clare Gregory, DSU Matron

Sue Williams, HR Business Partner is due later on.

Douglas is correct the answer to everything is 42!

So if they'd managed to get 42 names on the complaint that would have solved the problem?

As long as we are also advised about the following, preferably in large, friendly letters:

DON'T PANIC

TT

NF Ms Atkinson took the meeting. Are the notes correct?
(Reading) Corrects para 25 .

NF also please look p799. 13 August 2024 investigative interview with you. Asked about 15 April meeting. You say I was took off guard , that Ms said ‘staff need educating and training’

NF Ms Smith replied to that ‘thank you, I’ve passed this issue to relevant parties. Complex issues to manage.’ You reply ‘I appreciate complexity, I still await dates and times for another meeting’

Maybe her evidence, therefore is meant to show that the Trust did take the matter seriously?

TT

SG I think it was a case of crossed wires.
NF attendance to find appropriate (solutions) then Ms Atkinson writes ‘what does good look like , what do staff seek as a remedy? ‘

Some of the claimants said their line manager was Clare Gregory which would fit with the evidence being given.

.

I think this is Claire Gregory. She confirmed her name at the start.

TT

NF you say the team want a safe place for all including Rose. Don’t want a situation our word against theirs. That also expresses concern for Rose. Also a risk to Rose?
SG yes if an allegation made towards Rose.

NF both Rose and female Ns should all feel safe is that what you wanted?
SG yes.

Christian Concern have just tweeted the following:

"Helen Coppock. Associate Director of Nursing at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, has managed to avoid giving evidence at the Darlington nurses trial. This is strange, as she played a key role in putting the nurses at further risk by refusing to sign off on making their 'temporary' changing compliant with fire regulations. The man continued to use the female staff changing room while the nurses used this converted office for 11 months... This issue has come up at the hearing again this morning. This is what Ms Coppock wrote in an email regarding making the changing room fire safe: "The only thing was that Estates had quoted £7,500 to do the necessary work to make it compliant for fire safety measures. I did not think we could justify that, when every ward in the hospital does not have a changing facility. I did not say no, but escalated this…. You get so many emails each day, so if I do not hear back then I assume it has been dealt with.” On average, equality and diversity officer salaries typically range from around £35,000 to £45,000 for entry-level positions. Let that sink in. "

Some of us were in a room where the audio was muted for the first 10 minutes of this witness' evidence.

Perhaps someone can tag TT to correct the name?
I'm just copy and pasting what they post.

@Justabaker for you!

Speaks for itself doesn’t it? Not much point having a go at her.

TT

NF later meeting. Ms Atkinson wrote previously told a task group set up to explore options with estates team. Then your office was chosen to be a locker room.
SG originally just storage
NF know it was already going to be repurposed?

NF who decided your room should be used as a locker room?
SG my matron but I think came from Catherine Burn?
NF and the single room?
SG same
NF wee you concerned not adequate?

SG told it was temporary
NF Fire safety work informed?
SG yes
NF did you expect it would run till July 2025?

I think this judge is determined to get this case finished in time.

I think TT had sound issues which cut them off from the start of the evidence, which may have caused confusion. I have looked the witness up and am sure it is Claire Gregory (her photo is on a FB post about the department).

Ah I see. That makes sense.

TT

SG knew it was complicated
NF action taken to change it?
SG it wasn’t for me to take that action
J witness has already said above her level

NF others have said lower level should deal with.
NF how comms done?
SG I was bridge between nurses and HR. Nobbosy knew what to do.
NF Did you have the support you needed to support your staff?

A physical room? You are there? So jealous!

Presumably there's separate virtual rooms. If they were in an actual room the sound wouldn't have been an issue.

TT

SG initially me then I also talked to Sandra
NF end May letter from Ms Smith.

NF it says having reviewed all correspondence it would be next stage more formal investigation. Did you understand nature of investigation?
SG Trusts way of investigating

NF where you said before a safe space needed for all , did you think it needed an investigation? Ms Coppack is named
SG because Dir of Nursing
NF action on ground?
SG no