"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

Jo is in the room, so in person evidence. 😀

I've brought you a coffee to keep you going.

Happy tweeting x

Some noticeable absences in the gallery...

Thanks @JustabakerI’m working (or meant to be) but keeping as much of an eye as I can. Looking forward to Jo’s insights.

Let's just say it's not so red in there today.

Sitting on my hands about who isn't in the room

Shame - they could do with being educated

@AuthorisedCat This is the part that they really should be listening too as well, they may have learnt something.

People who really don't want to hear about the reality for women of being expected to get changed in front of a man or see him walking around in holey boxer shorts?

BINGO

Admire Jo very much - she went through an awful tribunal against the OU, who seemed to be just as much of a shitshow as Fife and Darlington.

I still cant get over having to discuss holey boxers at tribunal and not being so mortified that you die on the spot.

Well they do have a lot of sitting around in their office to catch up on.

I am so please to see Jo. I hope this helps exorcise any demons she may have from giving evidence last time.

TT

A change from recent days; appear to be no representatives of the Rs in the 'client chairs'
J - we seem to have gotten smaller in number today, not sure what its like on line, anything before we start
[nothing from barristers]
J - would you like to come to witness stand JP

Will JP's report be available anywhere online?

TT

JP - affirms
J - usual instructions, including on the fragility of cups
NF - you should have your report in front of you, does the tribunal have it
J - we have the report, hard and digital
NF - dated 9 2025,
JP - correct
NF - page 24, we see your signature, have you read

The women are still watching.

Perhaps they are busy reading Jo's witness statement?

You can answer me later, but does this mean that SC has nobody around to give him instructions if required?

With luck TT will be aloud to post her statement up on their website (or does the ET have to allow that?).

TT
recently, JP - yes NF - to you continue to hold those views JP - I do NF - takes through accompanying docs JP - yes all there NF - can you give brief intro, JP - you can see my CV, papers etc, I am a sociologist, specialising in sex and gender and have written mostly

TT

about criminal justice and women and girls.
NF - no further qs
J - SC?
SC - page 4, para 13, you describe 'I hold gender critical beliefs'
JP - yes
SC - you are a member of adv group for Sex Matters,
JP - yes
SC - you say you advise
JP - yes

We're here, J Sweeney!

TT

SC - Sex Matters (SM) says on website that adv board members endorses their principles
JP - yes, I do
SC - SM is very active
JP - it's a human rights org, yes
SC - intervened in Supreme Court, intervention positive
JP - yes
SC - is it reasonable to question your independence

It does seem to strengthen the case that at least part of their remit was to intimidate or at least keep tabs on their own witnesses.

She’s great, already.