Bethany Hutchison, day-surgery nurse

I am a senior nurse in a surgery unit. A few years ago, without warning, a male colleague began using the female nurses’ changing room. We were taken aback, and a bit scared. Women are frequently subjected to harassment, voyeurism, sexual assault and rape by men, and requiring us to undress in front of a man at work felt like a violation of our dignity. 

Our employer dismissed our complaints. HR told us to “broaden our mindset”. But the policy was putting female staff at risk. A man just had to say, “I identify as a woman” and that was it, he was allowed in. 

I’m not saying anything about this particular person – I never alleged he was a predator. I’m just saying sex is a biological fact. One nurse had a panic attack before her shift because she had been abused as a child and this transgender colleague asked her repeatedly when she was planning to get changed. Some women began wearing clothing underneath their uniforms to avoid being undressed in front of him. We were all looking over our shoulders in case he walked in.

Someone put up a poster on the changing room door stating it was an “inclusive” space, and women who had complained were moved to a tiny office with no lockers. We had to put our belongings on the floor, which is a risk for both security and infection control risk. The room opened onto a busy corridor so anyone could look in. And anyway, it was subject to the same rule: if a man who identified as a woman wanted to use it, he could.

Eight of us filed a claim with an employment tribunal against the hospital trust, because one group’s rights shouldn’t trample on other people’s rights. It was our view that we were being discriminated against on the basis of sex, but also that we had suffered harassment and that we had been treated very badly. I’m not saying that trans people should be ostracised and forced to change in a tiny cupboard like we were. Everyone should have facilities where they can get changed with dignity.