Nurse to return to work after winning NHS trans row over calling paedophile patient ‘Mr’

She was suspended, disciplined, and then sensationally reinstated after a public outcry, and is now set to rejoin 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".

As a single mum-of-two, Ms Melle was removed from duty after the sex offender - simply 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.

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.

"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.

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, supporting Ms Melle, 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".