A Christian senior nurse was investigated and deemed “a possible risk” after she referred to a convicted transgender child sex offender as ‘Mr’.
Jennifer Melle, from Croydon, refused to consult with the biological male as ‘she’ while on duty.
The convicted sex offender, who can’t be named for legal reasons, identifies as a girl but had are available in for treatment from a Category C men’s prison and was recorded within the medical records as male, not female or transgender.
The Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which is supporting Ms Melle, said the patient became indignant when she referred to him as ‘Mr X’ and shouted at her, “Imagine if I called you nigger. How about I call you nigger? Yes, black nigger!” before having to be restrained by guards.
She told him, “I’m sorry I cannot consult with you as her or she, because it’s against my faith and Christian values but I can call you by your name.”
An internal investigation found that Ms Melle’s actions may very well be “seen as a possible breach of the code [of conduct]”.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council code of conduct states that nurses should “not express your personal beliefs (including political, religious or moral beliefs) in an inappropriate way”.
Ms Melle was accused of “not respecting the patient’s preferred identity” and told her actions and behavior had “fallen wanting the Trust’s value of Respect”.
She was later moved to a unique unit, given a final written warning, and has now been referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Ms Melle is taking legal motion against Epsom and St Helier University Hospital Trust on the grounds of harassment, discrimination and human rights breaches.
The CLC said: “The story is the newest in a series of cases where NHS policy supports trans ideology over biological reality. It also follows the publication of the Sullivan report this week which revealed that the police are allowing criminals to ‘self-identify’ their gender on official records.
“In this case, policy has led, within the name of inclusivity, to the NHS siding with a paedophile convicted of great offences, while pretending to be the other sex, over members of staff with Christian and gender-critical beliefs.”
Ms Melle said that while she was trusting in Jesus, she was concerned by other NHS employees “suffering in silence during similar experiences”.
“Ever since I actually have expressed my Christian beliefs under extreme pressure, I actually have been a marked woman,” she said.
“I don’t feel supported by my colleagues, or the NHS, following the racial abuse and threat of physical violence I received from the patient. I remained skilled throughout and at all times treat every individual with dignity and respect.
“My conduct throughout this incident and through my profession has been fully compliant with the code.
“I actually have been put in danger, but I’m being treated like a criminal. Sadly, in case you put your head above the parapet and speak truthfully on these issues within the NHS the chance is that you just can be knocked down, punished severely and demoted.
“The message to me through the investigation is that I should put up with extreme racism and deny biological reality and my deeply held Christian beliefs, for the sake of ‘inclusivity’ and respecting lies.”
Andrea Williams, CLC chief executive, accused the NHS of being “captured by transgender ideology”.
“The Trust cannot force compelled speech on their staff and an urgent U-turn and apology is required,” she said.
“We would ask Wes Streeting, as health secretary, to analyze what is going on here … It’s time for presidency intervention on this matter.
“It’s time for the federal government to stop equality and variety policies being weaponised within the NHS to punish innocent nurses just doing their job.
“We will stand with Jennifer for so long as it takes for her to receive justice and with every other nurses who’re discriminated against as a result of this dangerous ideology.”
A spokesman for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust said: “These matters are still subject to ongoing internal proceedings, so it wouldn’t be right for us to comment further.”
