The County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust spent more than £600,000 in taxpayer money defending a staff changing-room policy that was later ruled unlawful in Durham, County Durham. An employment tribunal decided in January 2026 that the trust’s decision to allow biological men into female staff changing areas was a form of harassment and discrimination against eight nurses.
Board papers recently revealed the total cost for the legal battle reached £603,188.23 over a three-year period. According to the Christian Legal Centre, which supported the staff members, the tribunal found that the policy created a hostile environment and violated the dignity of the nurses.
During the dispute, the trust moved the nurses to a temporary changing area in a manager’s office, but this space was later found to be against fire safety rules. According to documents shared by Christian Concern, four of the nurses were also reported to the Nursing and Midwifery Council for speaking publicly about their concerns after they raised initial objections in July 2023.
The trust has confirmed it will not appeal the court’s decision and is now working to update its policies to ensure single-sex spaces are protected for staff. The legal costs spent on the case are estimated to be the same as the annual salaries of 19 newly qualified nurses.
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