Academic gives evidence at NHS trans changing rooms tribunal

Academic Gives Evidence at NHS Trans Changing Rooms Tribunal

Eight nurses have filed a claim alleging sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The claim concerns the use of female changing rooms by a transgender NHS nurse.

Details of the Claim

The nurses are opposing Rose Henderson, an NHS nurse who was born male but identifies as a woman, sharing female changing rooms at Darlington Memorial Hospital. They argue that this situation caused them distress and sexual discrimination.

“Women are more likely to suffer ‘fear and distress’ if made to undress in front of the opposite sex,” an academic told the tribunal.

Testimony from a Nurse

One nurse, Karen Danson, described her experience during an encounter in August 2023. She said she was left “sobbing and shaking in a panic attack” after finding herself in the changing room with Henderson, who was wearing boxer shorts.

“Henderson looked masculine, had facial hair, and there was nothing… to suggest [Henderson] was anything other than a man,” Danson told the tribunal in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Academic Report Submitted

Professor Jo Phoenix, a criminologist at the University of Reading, submitted a report supporting the nurses' claim. She identified as holding gender-critical views and stated that she believes sex is immutable.

“Whilst these beliefs have informed the direction that my academic and research career has taken, they do not cloud my academic judgment,” Phoenix wrote in the report.

Summary

This tribunal highlights tensions around transgender rights in healthcare settings, particularly the use of gendered spaces and the impact on other staff members’ comfort and rights.

Author's summary: A tribunal examines claims by NHS nurses that sharing female changing rooms with a transgender nurse caused distress and discrimination, supported by expert academic testimony.

Daily Mail — 2025-11-07