Nurse Branded A Risk For Refusing To Use Paedophile Pronouns Wins Settlement

 She was subjected to screaming racist abuse and threats of violence from the patient. Read more:

Nurse branded a 'risk' for refusing to use a paedophile's preferred pronouns wins settlement

An NHS nurse who was branded a 'risk to the public' for referring to a transgender paedophile as 'Mr' has won an out-of-court settlement.

Jennifer Melle, 41, from Croydon, was disciplined after refusing to adopt female pronouns for the six-foot convicted sex offender with a beard in May 2024.

She was subjected to screaming racist abuse and threats of violence from the patient at St Helier Hospital in Carshalton, Surrey.

Ms Melle was then suspended from her position in March 2025 after going public with her experience, with NHS officials concerned the patient could be identified from media reports - even though their identity was not disclosed.

The single mother-of-two was reported to the professional regulator and kept off work for ten months, though still received pay.

But she was finally reinstated in February this year after a public outcry, and the conclusion of a private disciplinary meeting that she had done nothing wrong.

Now, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust has also cleared her of wrongdoing in relation to telling her story, and agreed a settlement with the nurse, ahead of a tribunal that was set to commence on Monday.

Ms Melle said on Monday: 'I cannot discuss the terms of the settlement, but generally I am glad that my employer has finally decided to extend an olive branch to me.

'I look forward to being able to focus on the job I love instead of defending myself against various bizarre accusations.'

The trust said it was 'sorry' for the nurse's ordeal, and confirmed it had issued a written warning to the patient that racist language will not be tolerated.

Despite the settlement, Ms Melle's battle will continue as she remains the subject of two ongoing NMC investigations.

These are lengthy processes that can take years to conclude, and have the power to restrict or even end her professional career.

Ms Melle added: 'It should never have come to this. No nurse or other medical professionals should ever have to face what I have faced simply for telling the truth, doing their job, and reporting racist abuse and physical threats from a patient.'

The past two years, she said, have been the 'darkest days of my life', but it is 'still far from over'.