Today from 13:15pm on College Green, outside the Houses of Parliament, an unprecedented photo opportunity will take place ahead of the NHS disciplinary hearing of Christian nurse Jennifer Melle.
Following cross-party petition, led by Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP, calling on Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust not to dismiss Jennifer, she will be joined by the Darlington nurses, Bethany Hutchison and Lisa Lockey, along with Fife nurse Sandie Peggie, in a major show of support and solidarity.
This marks the first time all the nurses have appeared together, as Jennifer prepares to attend her disciplinary hearing on Tuesday 20 January in Epsom.
Jennifer is being supported by the Christian Legal Centre (CLC) after she spoke publicly about the disciplinary action taken against her for referring to a convicted male paedophile as “Mr” while caring for him during a hospital shift.
This week, the Darlington nurses, also supported by the Christian Legal Centre, won a landmark legal battle against the NHS, after an employment tribunal found that an NHS Trust had harassed and discriminated against them by allowing a male staff member to use the female changing rooms.
Sandie Peggie, supported by campaign group Sex Matters, is involved in a similar high-profile case in Scotland.
Earlier today, Claire Coutinho MP written to Sir Mark Lowcock, Chief Executive, and James Blythe, Chairman of Jennifer Melle’s Trust, urging them to intervene to prevent disciplinary action being taken against her.
The letter has also been signed by:
Rebecca Paul MP (Reigate, Conservative), Rosie Duffield MP (Canterbury, Independent), Joani Reid MP (East Kilbride and Strathaven, Labour), Mary Glindon MP (Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend, Labour), Tonia Antoniazzi MP (Gower, Labour), Danny Kruger MP (East Wiltshire, Reform), Carla Lockhart MP (Upper Bann, DUP), and Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, DUP).
A disciplinary hearing before Ms Melle’s employer is scheduled for 3:30pm on Tuesday 20 January 2026, at the Epsom Gateway Building in Surrey. Jennifer also faces a full Employment Tribunal hearing in April 2026. A peaceful protest is expected outside of the venue and media are invited to attend.
This latest hearing follows the cancellation of a previous internal disciplinary hearing in December 2025, at which Jennifer could have been dismissed. That hearing was withdrawn following political intervention, including a public statement and letter from Claire Coutinho MP, warning that taking action against Jennifer would be a “grave injustice.”
What happened to Jennifer?
Jennifer Melle, 40, from Croydon, has worked at St Helier Hospital for 12 years with an unblemished record.
While on duty, Jennifer cared for a prisoner patient known as “Mr X”, a biological male and convicted paedophile. During a clinical discussion, Jennifer used biologically accurate language to refer to the patient, which led to Mr X responding with racial abuse and a physical threat, requiring security intervention.
Despite being the victim, Jennifer received a first written warning in October 2024 and was referred to the NMC as “a potential risk” for not using the patient’s preferred identity. The Trust didn’t apologise for the abuse she endured and continued to treat her as the offender.
Jennifer’s case gained national attention after appearing on front pages on 23 March 2025, prompting widespread public support, including from J.K. Rowling. Colleagues initially praised her courage, but staff were later instructed not to speak publicly about the case or engage with Jennifer.
Days later, Jennifer was removed from duty during clinic hours and summoned to an “informal” meeting. The next morning, she was told she was being investigated for a “potential data breach”, without specifics.
She was immediately suspended, escorted from the premises, and banned from returning. She has remained suspended while the Trust has strengthened its internal policies to classify “misgendering” as an explicit breach.
Jennifer believes the data breach allegation is being used as a pretext to punish her for speaking out, and that the investigation has failed to properly consider whistleblowing protections.
Jennifer describes this period as “the darkest of my life,” marked by fear, anxiety, and uncertainty as a single mother facing the potential loss of her livelihood.
She has also described how she has been abandoned by the Royal College of Nursing who told her to do ‘a reflection’ to ensure the incident did not happen again and refused to intervene and support her.
Her case is expected to be a major test of how NHS Trusts will reconcile gender identity policies with legal authority affirming that biological sex matters in equality law.
Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, Jennifer is pursuing legal action for harassment, discrimination, victimisation, and breaches of her freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
Her full Employment Tribunal hearing is listed for April 2026.