A nurse suspended by the NHS after misgendering a paedophile patient returns to work tomorrow promising “this is not over”.

Jennifer Melle was frogmarched out of St Helier Hospital in Carshalton, Surrey, after a 6ft bearded transgender male sex offender objected to being called “Mr”.

She was suspended, disciplined, and then sensationally reinstated after a public outcry. Now she is set to join her colleagues on the frontline.

Ms Melle told the Express: “While I am glad to be returning to work, I must be honest: this is not over.

“For nearly a year I have been suspended simply for telling the truth: that I was racially abused and physically threatened after using biologically accurate language to refer to a male patient. I was treated as the criminal.

“The Trust sided with a man brought from prison in chains over a Christian nurse with 12 years of loyal service. That should never have happened to anyone and I hope my case stands as a warning that the NHS cannot continue to punish staff for speaking about biological reality and for speaking out about how they have been treated.”

Single mum-of-two Ms Melle, 41, was removed from duty after the sex offender – known as Patient X – arrived shackled to guards from a men’s prison for treatment for a urinary infection and was fitted with a catheter.

But during his treatment he objected to being called “Mr” and subjected the Christian nurse to a torrent of racial abuse and threatening behaviour.

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust accused Ms Melle of a potential patient data breach in speaking about her ordeal despite admitting his identity remains unknown.

The Trust issued her a written warning and later suspended her for nine months while investigating allegations she had disclosed details of the incident publicly.

After an internal disciplinary hearing collapsed last month it said it would take no further action but has still refused to issue a full public apology.

Despite returning to the job she loves Ms Melle is taking her employer to an employment tribunal claiming harassment, discrimination, victimisation, and breaches of freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

She also faces two outstanding Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) fitness-to-practice investigations over “misgendering” the paedophile while her union, the Royal College of Nursing, has refused to back her.

Ms Melle said: “I am deeply relieved and grateful the Trust has finally confirmed it will take no further action against me. This has been an incredibly long and painful journey. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has stood with me, prayed for me, and supported me through the darkest moments – your encouragement has meant more than I can say.”

But she added: “Two NMC cases remain open, and a full employment tribunal is scheduled for April. I will continue to fight, not only for myself, but for every nurse and healthcare worker who deserves to practice according to their conscience and their faith without fear.”

Her case comes as the Government and NHS faces claims they are dragging their feet over the protection of women in the NHS and wider public sector under the Equality Act as defined by the Supreme Court in its landmark ruling last April.

The impasse comes despite seven nurses in Darlington who an employment tribunal found were victims of harassment and sex discrimination after County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust allowed a biological male trans woman to undress in front them. And in Scotland nurse Sandie Peggie was suspended by NHS Fife after she complained about having to share a changing room with transgender medic.

Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre which is supporting Ms Melle in her legal action, said: “Jennifer’s reinstatement is welcome, but it is justice delayed and only partially delivered.

“The Trust was poised to dismiss a dedicated Christian nurse for the ‘crime’ of telling the truth about the racial abuse and physical threats she suffered at the hands of a convicted paedophile. It took the weight of public outrage to force them to do the right thing. That tells you everything about how captured parts of our NHS have become by transgender ideology.

“Jennifer should never have been suspended. She should never have been investigated. She should never have received a written warning. She should have been supported from the very first moment a patient subjected her to racist abuse. Instead, she endured the darkest period of her life: suspended, reported to the NMC as a risk, and abandoned by her union. The Trust has said she did nothing wrong, but it has still not apologised.

“We are glad Jennifer can return to doing the job she loves. But the fight is not finished. Two NMC referrals remain active, and a full employment tribunal will be heard in April.

“Jennifer’s case will 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 same protections as anyone else.

“We will stand with Jennifer every step of the way.”

After her reinstatement Epsom and St Helier Hospitals NHS Trust said: “Racial abuse of our staff is never acceptable, nor is discussing a patient’s private medical information publicly. We are sorry Ms Melle had this experience and we issued a written warning to this patient, but we expect all staff to maintain patient confidentiality at all times.”