UK nurse claims she was suspended for ‘misgendering’ trans prisoner – The Times of India

A senior NHS nurse on Sunday was suspended after addressing a transgender paedophile as “Mister” and later speaking publicly about the incident. Jennifer Melle, 40, was escorted from St Helier Hospital in Carshalton, Surrey, in tears following a short meeting with a manager last week, Daily Mail reported.
Ms Melle, a devout Christian originally from Uganda, claims she was punished for whistleblowing, despite being subjected to racist abuse by the patient. “I am devastated to have been suspended just for whistleblowing,” she was quoted saying by The Daily Mail.
“Despite being the one placed at risk, I am the one being punished. The message I have received is clear: I am expected to tolerate racism, deny biological reality and suppress my deeply held Christian beliefs.”
The patient, known only as Patient X, was a convicted sex offender brought to the ward from a high-security men’s prison for treatment. During an evening shift, Ms Melle referred to the patient as “he” and “Mister” while discussing a catheter procedure with a doctor, explaining it was “a medical scenario that required accurate terminology.”
The patient, who identifies as a woman, became enraged and verbally assaulted the nurse.
According to The Telegraph, Ms Melle recalled the patient shouting, “Imagine if I called you n—–? How about I call you n—–? Yes, black n—–,” before lunging at her.
Despite this abuse, it was Ms Melle who was disciplined last year with a final warning and referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The NHS trust has now suspended her over a “potential breach” of patient confidentiality, after she spoke to the media about her experience.
Ms Melle has launched legal proceedings against Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, alleging harassment, discrimination and human rights violations. The Christian Legal Centre, which is backing her claim, described her treatment as “blatant, unlawful victimisation.”
“This is a legally protected act under the Equality Act,” said Andrea Williams, the group’s chief executive. “The NHS has become so entrenched in transgender ideology that it is willing to side with a man brought in from prison in chains – who was shouting racist abuse – over a Christian nurse”, Wiliams added.
The case has sparked political backlash. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called Ms Melle’s suspension “completely crazy,” adding, “She has my full support. It’s time the Government pulls its finger out and intervenes to make it clear no one should be punished at work for stating biological reality to paedophiles.”
A spokesperson for the NHS trust said staff are expected to uphold professional standards, including confidentiality, and confirmed Ms Melle’s complaints were under investigation. “There is no excuse for racially abusing our staff, and we’re sorry that Ms Melle had this experience,” the spokesperson was quoted saying by The Telegraph. “As proceedings are still ongoing, it wouldn’t be right for us to comment further”, the spokesperson added.