Jennifer Melle (Photo: Christian Legal Centre)
Supporters of Jennifer Melle, the Christian nurse at the centre of a trans row, have launched a petition calling on hospital bosses to drop all disciplinary action against her.
Melle’s troubles began when caring for a patient known only as “Mr X”. Melle referred to the patient, who is a transgender biological male and a convicted paedophile, using male pronouns.
The patient then became aggressive and had to be stopped by security, reportedly threatening Melle and referred to her as a “N****r”.
Following this ordeal, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust decided to take action against Melle, giving her a written warning.
Meanwhile the Nursing and Midwifery Council declared Melle to be “a potential risk” for not using Mr X’s preferred pronouns. After going to the press with her story, Melle was further accused of a “data breach”.
A full Employment Tribunal hearing is due to take place in April, however a disciplinary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.
Supporters have urged Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust to drop their actions against Melle.
A petition, hosted by the Conservative Party, but billed as a cross-party effort, states: “Jennifer, a single mother, could lose her job at her disciplinary hearing on Tuesday. We only have a short amount of time to save her career and her livelihood.”
Melle said ahead of the hearing, “I am deeply moved by the support. This petition shows that people of all parties believe in fairness and truth.
“I have always sought to provide the highest standard of care to every patient, but I cannot compromise reality or my faith.
“I pray that the Trust will do the right thing and allow me to return to the job I love.”
Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which has been supporting Melle, said, “Jennifer has suffered at the hands of the NHS for nothing more than believing and expressing a basic truth, that men are men and women are women, a conviction rooted in her Christian faith.”
In addition to the CLC, Melle is being supported by Claire Coutinho MP, who launched the cross-party petition, Scottish nurse Sandie Peggie who has been fighting a similar battle against the NHS in Scotland, and the Darlington nurses who last Friday won a major landmark victory against having to sharing their changing room with a trans-identifying biological male.
The CLC has organised a protest to take place outside Melle’s disciplinary hearing on Tuesday afternoon. Peggie and the Darlington nurses will be in attendance at the protest.
Coutinho has previously said that taking action against Melle would be a “grave injustice”.
Maya Forstater, who won a legal challenge against being fired for gender-critical views, is also backing Melle.
She said, “There should be no more of these witch hunts, in the NHS or anywhere else.”
