Jennifer Melle returns to work, but says fight just isn’t over yet

Christian nurse Jennifer Melle has returned to work following a months-long dispute together with her employer, St Helier Hospital in Carshalton, Surrey.

However, Melle and her supporters have said that she still faces two investigations by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and a full employment tribunal in April.

Melle was suspended after using male pronouns to discuss with a female-identifying patient, who was also a convicted paedophile. The patient reportedly became threatening and aggressive and referred to Melle as a “n****r”.

In January a disciplinary hearing by her employer confirmed that the case against her had been dropped.

Melle, who’s being supported by the Christian Legal Centre, has said she’s going to proceed with a full employment tribunal against Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, claiming harassment, discrimination, victimisation, and breaches of her freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

In addition to this the NMC has two outstanding investigations into Melle over the “potential risk” she poses to the general public for “misgendering” a patient and for an alleged “data breach” – an apparent reference to her going to the press together with her story.

Melle said, “While I’m glad to be returning to work, I have to say that this just isn’t over. Two NMC cases remain open, and a full employment tribunal is scheduled for April in Croydon. I’ll proceed to fight, not just for myself, but for each nurse and healthcare employee who deserves to practise based on their conscience and their faith without fear.”

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said of the upcoming tribunal, “Jennifer’s case might be a landmark test of whether the NHS can reconcile its gender identity policies with the law, and whether Christian nurses are entitled to the identical protections as anyone else. We will stand with Jennifer every step of the best way.”