Trans row nurses say public support 'overwhelming' in battle against woke NHS

Nurses fighting NHS gender dogma have praised the Daily Express and its army of readers as they continue to wage war on woke ideology.

The women are fighting for the right to a female-only changing room after a biological male colleague - identifying as a woman called Rose - invaded their space.

Yet despite a Supreme Court ruling, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust continues to ignore the unequivocal judgement and drags its heels.

In an interview last month the trailblazing women - known as the "Darlington Eight" - said their battle is now on behalf of all those wronged by rules enforced by a state that kow-tows to political correctness.

And they have been bowled over by the backing they have received.

Mum-of-two Bethany Hutchison, 35, President of the Darlington Nursing Union, said: "We are deeply moved by the overwhelming support we've received. We are very grateful to Daily Express readers, followers and the Christian Legal Centre, for the support we continue to be given, which continues to grow.

"Your encouragement is what keeps us going. We are standing not just for ourselves, but for every nurse and healthcare worker who deserves dignity, safety, and justice in the workplace. We will not stop until this situation is resolved and for common sense secured for all."

Their ongoing action was launched after Rose - a male nurse identifying as female - menacingly loitered as they changed.

None was informed their room would be infiltrated by a biological male, with one left terror-stricken when she heard his voice. Another suffered a panic attack after being asked when alone: "Are you getting changed yet?"

The scandal erupted after a "Stonewall-inspired NHS policy" meant female nurses at Darlington Memorial Hospital were unable to have their own changing room.

Despite the furore, and interventions by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and NHS England, the impasse continues, with nurses still forced to use a temporary changing facility rather than a dedicated female only room as the trust - and others - defy the Supreme Court ruling.

In April it ruled the terms "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act referred only to a biological woman and to biological sex, with subsequent guidance from the equality watchdog amounting to a blanket ban on trans people using toilets and other services of the gender they identify as.

The groundbreaking judgement marked the climax of a long-running legal battle which is set to have major implications for how sex-based rights apply across Scotland, England and Wales.

Judges unanimously sided with campaign group For Women Scotland, which brought a case against the Scottish government arguing sex-based protections should only apply to people that are born female.

Supporters of the Darlington Eight include author and activist JK Rowling who said: "If some trans-identified people in the UK are currently experiencing rage and disappointment because the Supreme Court clarified that they don't have rights they believed they had, the responsibility lies firmly with [those] who've persistently argued, falsely, that gender transition turned a person into the opposite sex for all practical purposes in the eyes of the law."

Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre said: "The intransigence of the NHS and its refusal to resolve this matter is deeply troubling and doesn't sit well in a society that says it values the rule of law.

"Despite clear and repeated calls from the Prime Minister, the Health Secretary, and NHS England, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust persists in ignoring both common sense and a binding Supreme Court ruling.

"This is not just a legal issue, it's a matter of safeguarding and of fundamental respect for women. It is shocking to see how entrenched gender identity ideology continues to override law, logic, and the right to privacy.

"Inaction sends a stark message to women across the NHS: that their dignity and safety do not matter. That must change immediately."

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said: "We are committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all our staff and patients. We fully acknowledge the Supreme Court ruling and are taking the necessary time to carefully consider its implications for our organisation while we await further national guidance."