Darlington nurses have hit out at being given a "dehumanising" new changing room during a legal row.

A group of nurses from County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT) have lodged an employment tribunal case for sexual discrimination and sexual harassment over a trans woman being allowed to use the female changing room.

Some members of the group, from Darlington Memorial Hospital's Day Surgery unit, spoke publicly about their legal challenge in June, saying they felt "unsafe" in the situation, and that they had been "intimidated and threatened" by the hospital's HR department. 

The nurses have made claims about harassment, indirect discrimination, and breach of nurses' ECHR Article Eight rights (the right to privacy).  

The case is believed to be unprecedented, meaning it could be a landmark ruling in employment law. 

Now, the nurses who have taken up legal action say they have been given a "humiliating", temporary locker room for those who were feeling uncomfortable.

The ‘locker room’ had nothing in it other than one chair and a hook on the back of the door.

Nurses choosing to change in this room had to leave their belongings in piles on the floor, causing an infection and security risk.

The room opens straight on to a busy ward corridor and is opposite a patient-side room.

The door has a key press lock, but whenever the door is opened it exposes anyone already getting changed inside and there is therefore zero privacy.

Lockers have only been provided in the last few weeks, but there are not enough for all the women wanting to use the room and the space is limited.

The nurses say that the ‘temporary solution’ has served to humiliate and degrade the nurses and further isolate them.

In a joint statement, the nurses said: "We continue to be appalled at how we and our female colleagues are being humiliated and dehumanised by the hospital and Trust. Instead of listening and acting on our concerns and the public and media outcry, they have doubled down, putting transgender ideology before women’s safety.

"We were told the locker room would be ‘temporary’ until a solution was found. This locker room, however, does not appear to be temporary and no solution has been found.

"Changing in this room has made us feel humiliated, embarrassed, isolated, ostracised, degraded and dehumanised.

"Ultimately this 'locker room' still falls under the same policy as any other changing room facility in the Trust and, therefore, if a male identifying as a female wanted to access it, they could.

"From the beginning we have always advocated for our male colleagues to be given dignified changing room space, we just do not believe that space should be in the female changing room.

"We have been overwhelmed and are truly grateful to the letters of support we have received from women across the country. Your support means the world to us and keeps us going.

"We will not give in to any intimidation and bullying and will continue to stand for justice and for women and girls across the country in this matter."

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A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said:“We are sorry to hear this feedback.

"The Trust is working with the clinical teams and within the space available to provide additional alternative arrangements.

"These include a private, lockable changing room and an office which has been converted into a locker room for the storage of belongings.”

Phoenix Trans, a support group for transgender individuals in Darlington, previously said they are worried that they may face prejudice whilst being treated at the NHS, or that the case could stir up violent hatred in the North East.