"Darlington Nurses" vs County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust Tribunal Thread 7

[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)
Thread 5, 31-Oct to 04-Nov; JB (day 8), SW, CG, JR (day 9)
Thread 6, 04-Nov to 05-Nov; RH (day 10), SW (day 11)

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, NHS 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
AT – Anna Telfer, NHS Deputy Director of Nursing
SW – Sandra Watson, Matron for General and Elective Surgery
JR – Jodie Robinson, manager of Rose

😂

I’m days behind as usual, but something that struck me from earlier in the week about the but Rose has been using the changing rooms without complaint for years claim is a need to consider that for the Covid months very little elective surgery happened at all.

I have no idea how this was managed in Darlington, but other trusts redeployed staff to other more critical areas and furloughed some people. It is probable in my view that the changing rooms were less busy during this time as a result.

None of which excuses a male being in the female changing rooms in anyway, but it is perhaps a contributing factor to the fact that it took time for complaints to build up.

Agreed.

That RH has mentioned in court that he hadn't realised there was an issue and couldn't understand what the issue might be, even when it reached the point of all the months of escalation, process and him actually sitting in the court room about it, and that the trust only started to do something when the nurses hit desperation and told the press, suggests that it's hard to know what kind of 'complaint' might have registered. It's meaningless to claim that 'nobody minded' - as apparently unless it's on the front page of the Daily Mail causing bad PR it doesn't matter what any woman says or does.

It's a shame he hasn't done any round ups or opinion pieces on his blog re this case too

I had a theory that a judicial review of Ms Phillipsons (in)activities was being contemplated, which would tie him up for now if he was involved. But he might just be peacefully planning his tutorials

Yes. I dont think it was captured by TT but he said words to the effect that in the early part of covid & training they hadn't been thought to be of much use to theatre, and had been redeployed.

That RH has mentioned in court that he hadn't realised there was an issue and couldn't understand what the issue might be, even when it reached the point of all the months of escalation, process and him actually sitting in the court room about it,

Because he's a man.

A stark warning to all those parents cheering on their transitioning kids. When they get to the real world it's going to be a very different reality.

Sadly that is, in part the reason that transitioning kids is promoted by genderists, so they would not end up looking like RH.

The malagas, wanted to promote child transition to validate the concept of a middle aged man born in the wrong body.

the homophobic want to trans out the gay

i try very hard to think in terms as whatever you wanna look like and wear as long as you stay out of womens spaces and right’s.

but it is i find increasingly difficult to be in the slightest bit tolerant.

Thanks for saying that openly and honestly. The problem I have is that I believe in equality, and the tolerance is all one-sided atm. One of the things I'm crossest about in this case is that the assumption was that the nurses were ALL transphobic and needed re-educating. No one thought 'something's changed here' and considered the possibility that Henderson's behaviour could be the problem. That's not equality. That's prejudice and discrimination.

Yes!

One of the disturbing things that has happened is that voyeurism and exhibitionism, both sex-crimes known to often be part of an escalating pattern, seem to have been forgotten about by police.

At a time when recording and circulating images and recordings taken without consent is easier than it has even been.

That's not equality. That's prejudice and discrimination.

1,000 percent this. None of this movement is seeking equality. If equality was the goal, third spaces would be welcomed as a solution. It’s so obvious that it’s about domination isn’t it?

Very true, very appropriate, and very deliberately not seen.

Of course, some will have felt too uncomfortable or intimidated by the system to complain in the first place.

Yes, it is about possession and colonisation.

It's interesting who doesn't pop up on this thread. Almost like it is indefensible what has happened to these nurses.

I have been thinking about that too.

For those arguing in good faith, there’s been plenty of opportunity to air their arguments. For example, we are often told that transwomen shouldn’t be denied the opportunity to have children. Yet no one has come on here to suggest that Rose wanting to start a family with his wife is perfectly natural and shouldn’t preclude him sharing a changing room with women. Or that his male anatomy is that special lady dick we hear so much about.

It’s almost as though they know it’s all complete bullshit.

Here we are again!

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.

Popping in to say good morning - I'm reporting the first half of the morning (God and technology willing).

And interesting thay the thread on the TiM teacher is having g a lot of the same discussions as on this thread but they're having to deal with the whackamole but not a whisper here.

@Justabaker Good luck can hardly wait to hear what Jo has to say, i wish her all the best she is one of my super shero’s

Ditto.

I think Jo’s expertise is going to be invaluable after all the HR evidence of how the risk factors didn’t occur them and didn’t seem important.

Also looking forward to today. I don't really have time for it (going away, much to do) but I'm here all the same.

And here we go!

Mine too, she has had such an extraordinary life, a film should be made.

I wonder if there will be much cross examination of JP. They may not want to draw attention to reality.