A NORTH-EAST nurse who has undergone a sex change has told a national conference of her experience of becoming a woman while working in the NHS.

Clare Morgan, a former male nurse at James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, addressed delegates at the conference in London last month.

The one-day symposium was organised by the Royal College of Nursing in a bid to draw attention to the subject of gender reassignment.

There are currently an estimated 5,000 people - both male and female - awaiting surgery in the UK.

But someone hoping to undergo a sex change operation on the NHS faces a wait of up to 20 years before receiving surgery, as there are only 48 centres capable of carrying out the operation.

According to the RCN, up to 80 per cent of those people on the waiting list either work in the care industry or aim to do so after they have the surgery.

A special career advice service set up by the Nursing and Midwifery Council is receiving a growing number of calls regarding transgender issues, especially with regard to treatment by colleagues.

The council believes transgender issues could become a concern for several reasons, including bullying, whether or not they should be registered as male or female nurses, and the issue of discrimination against sex change staff who apply for training.

Ms Morgan told delegates about her experiences of undergoing gender reassignment.

Last night, her colleagues said she had their full support.

Steve Moore, of the Royal College of Nurses (RCN), gave his full support, saying: "The RCN recognises that transexualism is a genuine medical condition.

"The RCN also expects work colleagues of transgender persons to treat them appropriately."

A spokesman at James Cook University Hospital said: "We employ anyone on their ability to do the job.