0:00
Well, it's completely unacceptable to have a biological man in a female-only changing room
0:08
And from my personal point of view, I was abused as a child and having a man in our changing room is a particular trigger for me
0:18
And the trust just did nothing about it. So we had to take things further
0:24
So you complained to the trust about this, you and your colleagues got together and they just ignored you
0:29
They didn't really care about it? Not at all. They didn't care at all
0:33
We wrote a letter of concern, 26 of us signed it, and the response was that we needed to be re-educated
0:41
we needed to broaden our mindset, and they backed this trans person 150%
0:46
So, Karen, this person, who identifies as Rose, on one occasion they were staring at you or your colleague's breasts
0:55
in this changing room and asking, are you getting changed yet? Another of your colleagues had a panic attack
1:00
I don't think it was you. Is that accurate? That was me. You had the panic attack
1:05
I was in the changing room, and within five minutes, he'd asked me three times, are you not getting changed yet
1:11
And what was he doing? He was half-dressed in the changing room
1:15
just staring at me, wanting to know why I wasn't getting changed. What a disgrace. How can anybody in positions of power allow this to happen
1:21
What's your feeling now towards the Trust? I assume you still work for them
1:26
I do, yes. I just feel totally abandoned by them You know we went with all our concerns and they weren they weren interested We never thought that we have to take legal action to to get what is our right to have a female only space to get changed a safe space that respects our privacy and dignity
1:45
And what do you make of people who call you a turf or a bigot for complaining about this kind of thing? Because that's what they say
1:53
They do, yes. But there's been lots of positivity out there for us. There's loads of positive comments
1:59
and I'm not a bigot, I'm not a turf, I'm just fighting for what's right
2:04
I want to feel safe when I get changed. It's like what's happened to me could have happened to other people
2:11
and I want to be a voice for them to stand up and come forward and say this is not acceptable
2:16
Karen, you're a brave lady, you and your colleagues, and I'm glad. Actually, it was Wes Streisand who intervened in the end
2:21
one of the more competent Labour ministers, who told Darlington Hospital, sort this out, pull your finger out
2:26
don't be so ridiculous, and he got involved and he sorted it out for you. What's your thoughts finally on Mr Streeting
2:33
Well, he offered his support to us about a year ago and I met him back in October last year
2:39
and I told him a bit about my past and how I suffer from PTSD and he promised then that he would do something about it
2:45
and it's only now as the Supreme Court judgment has provided clarity
2:51
that he sent someone from NHS England to the hospital to get things moving
2:57
but there was no time frame. We'll just do it quickly, but that's it
3:02
Karen, thank you so much for speaking about this tonight. And again, congratulations to you. I really do praise your courage, your bravery
3:08
your tenacity for getting this sorted out. So well done to you and send my regards and indeed from the channel to your colleagues as well
3:14
Thank you, Karen. Thank you very much. Thank you. Take care
