MPs slam ‘ideological madness’ after nurse could be fired for calling bearded patient ‘Mr’
A group of MPs from across the political spectrum have written to the NHS trust
Nurse Jennifer Melle is facing the sack for misgendering a trans paedophile (Image: JONATHAN BUCKMASTER)
A cross-party group of MPs have urged the NHS to drop disciplinary action against a nurse suspended after misgendering a trans paedophile. Jennifer Melle, 40, is facing the sack following the incident in May 2023, when she called the 6-foot bearded sex offender “Mr”. She told the patient: “Sorry I cannot refer to you as ‘her’ or ‘she’ as it’s against my faith and Christian values, but I can call you by your name.”
Ms Melle is claiming the individual, an inmate from a high-security men’s prison listed as male on their medical record, went on to subject her to a racially and religiously motivated assault. The nurse faces a disciplinary hearing tomorrow as she is accused of breaching patient confidentiality by speaking to the media, which she denies.
But a group of nine MPs from across the political spectrum have written to the boss of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals Trust demanding that the disciplinary action is dropped.
They said: “We are writing as a cross-party group of MPs to raise our serious concerns about the disciplinary process against nurse Jennifer Melle, and to urge you not to dismiss her from employment.
“The disciplinary process that you are putting Jennifer through could ultimately lead to her dismissal.
“To impose further sanctions on Jennifer would be a grave injustice.
“Hardworking, dedicated nurses like Jennifer represent the best of the NHS. They must not be punished for expressing or defending their legally protected belief in the reality of biological law.”
The signatories include independent Rosie Duffie and shadow equalities minister Claire Coutinho.
The letter was also signed by Reform UK MP Danny Kruger, Tory Rebecca Paul, Labour MPs Mary Glindon, Joani Reid and Tonia Antoniazzi, and DUP MPs Carla Lockhart and Jim Shannon.
Sharing the letter on X, Ms Coutinho said: “No nurse should be punished for recognising that biological sex is real.” However the trust insists the hearing is about patient confidentiality.
The letter comes ahead of Ms Melle’s disciplinary hearing which is due to take place tomorrow.
The row comes after a landmark Supreme Court ruling last year that the definition of a woman in equality law is based on biological sex.
A spokesperson for 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 that Miss 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.”
