Trans row nurse tells Sandie Peggie employment tribunal that union 'failed to help me when I needed them most'

A nurse previously at the centre of a row over a transgender patient's pronouns has said the Royal College of Nursing union failed to support her "when I needed them the most".

Jennifer Melle won a settlement from her employer, Epsom and St Helier Hospitals NHS Trust, after she received a warning over using incorrect pronouns to address a transgender patient.

On Monday, Ms Melle gave evidence at Sandie Peggie's latest employment tribunal.

The Fife nurse is taking action against the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) over what she claims was direct discrimination.

Ms Peggie previously brought a case against NHS Fife after sharing a changing room with transgender medic Dr Beth Upton at Kirkcaldy's Victoria Hospital in December 2023.

In December 2025, the tribunal awarded Ms Peggie a partial victory, upholding claims of harassment against her employer, but dismissing allegations of discrimination, indirect discrimination and victimisation.

Ms Peggie claims the RCN failed to adequately support her in the dispute with the health board, and is seeking a finding that the union discriminated against her because of her gender-critical and sex realist beliefs.

The RCN denies the claims.

Ms Melle appeared as a witness at the tribunal in Dundee on Monday.

The nurse said a patient had become "vile and abusive" towards her when she used a "biological pronoun".

She was later placed under investigation, and contacted the RCN for support. Ms Melle said it took a "couple of days or weeks" for the union to respond to her.

When a union representative reportedly asked her to write a reflection on what had happened, she said it "felt like more punishment".

Ms Melle said she was later referred to the nursing regulator, and she questioned "why they didn't help me when I needed them the most?".

She stated the regulatory investigation by the Nursing and Midwifery Council was the most "critical" time of her career.

Ms Melle added: "I was very shaken - having sleepless nights, having panic attacks."

More from the tribunal:
Trans row nurse takes union to tribunal
Beliefs had 'no bearing' on union decision

On behalf of the RCN, David Hay KC said representatives had, in fact, been in touch with her to discuss the options around her case.

When she maintained her position that the union had not supported her, Mr Hay said there was "no way for the RCN to know that you had the deep-seated concerns that you're telling us".

He said the RCN "weren't saying never" when she asked for legal assistance, but simply wanted to see how her case progressed.

Ms Melle claimed the union was "neglecting the urgency" of the case.

Bethany Hutchison, president of the Darlington Nursing Union, also gave evidence.

Nurses represented by the Darlington union received an apology from their NHS trust following a row involving a trans colleague using single-sex changing rooms.

Ms Hutchison said she had been left feeling like a "naughty schoolgirl, like I was being told off for something" with a union official.

She claimed the RCN had "abandoned their members, particularly their female members".

RCN representative Stuart Fraser, who was initially approached by Ms Peggie after the confrontation with Dr Upton at Victoria Hospital, also gave evidence.

Responding to questions from Ms Peggie's barrister, Naomi Cunningham, he said that at the time it was his understanding that transgender individuals could use the facilities with which they identify.

It was put to Mr Fraser that he had referred to Dr Upton as "she" in previous correspondence, suggesting this was a sign that "gender ideology has got its hooks so deeply into RCN".

Mr Fraser said he did not believe this was the case, and claimed that he would not have thought about the use of the pronoun.

He denied he had handled Ms Peggie's case on the basis that the nurse was the "aggressor", and Dr Upton was the "victim".

The tribunal, taking place before employment judge Melanie Sangster, continues.

(c) Sky News 2026: Trans row nurse tells Sandie Peggie employment tribunal that union 'failed to hel