A senior nurse with twelve years of service faces the prospect of being sacked after she addressed a transgender patient, who is a convicted paedophile, as 'Mr' due to her Christian beliefs.
A Clash of Beliefs and Professional Conduct
Jennifer Melle, 40, was disciplined by St Helier Hospital in Carshalton, Surrey, following an incident in May 2024. The dispute arose during a discussion about a medical procedure, when the patient objected to Melle's use of the title 'Mr'.
Melle explained to 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.' According to reports, the patient then subjected her to a racially and religiously aggravated assault, using offensive language.
Despite this, the hospital's focus turned to Melle's conduct. In October 2024, she was referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a 'potential risk' for allegedly breaching conduct policy, which advises nurses not to express personal beliefs 'in an inappropriate way'.
Suspension and Mounting Support
Later last year, Melle was escorted from the hospital premises and suspended after she allegedly spoke out about her treatment. She told the Mail on Sunday: 'I am devastated to have been suspended just for whistleblowing. Despite being the one placed at risk, I am the one being punished.'
Melle now faces a decisive disciplinary hearing with the Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust on Tuesday, which could result in her dismissal. A previous hearing set for December was cancelled after intervention from shadow equalities minister Claire Coutinho, who warned of a 'great injustice'.
The case has attracted significant political and public support. Coutinho has launched a petition demanding the Trust halt the process and reinstate Melle. The nurse has also garnered backing from JK Rowling and Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch, who stated no one 'should be punished at work for stating biological reality to paedophiles'.
Broader Legal Context and Trust Response
Melle's situation follows a landmark tribunal ruling on Friday in favour of seven Darlington nurses who challenged a trust's policy on transgender access to single-sex spaces. That ruling criticised the trust's approach and has increased pressure for clearer national guidance.
Melle is also pursuing a full Employment Tribunal hearing in April 2024, claiming harassment, discrimination, and breaches of her freedom of thought, conscience, and religion against the Trust.
Andrea Williams of the Christian Legal Centre, supporting Melle, said: 'The Trust should immediately end the disciplinary process... The issue is not complex, the law is not complex.'
In a statement, 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... but we expect all staff to maintain patient confidentiality at all times.'
