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Nurse Jennifer Melle who "misgendered" a transgender paedophile patient has been told she is welcome back at work after the NHS was forced to back down in a ruling described as a "victory for commnon sense". Fury erupted after the medic with an unblemished 13-year career was told she had breached patient confidentiality for speaking publicly about the racial abuse she suffered at the hands of an aggressive sex offender identifying as a woman.

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust told Ms Melle, 40, the identity of the sex offender remains unknown, thereby acknowledging no confidentiality breach had taken place, but she brought her profession and employer into disrepute by speaking about the vile way in which she had been treated by Patient X. But after a disciplinary hearing her employer told her no further action would be taken and she has been reinstated.

At the end of a two-hour disciplinary hearing she broke down and fell to the floor.

She said: "I am deeply relieved and grateful to hear no further action will be taken against me. This has been an incredibly long and painful journey, and I want to give thanks, first and foremost, to Jesus, who has sustained me every step of the way.

"I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has stood with me, prayed for me, and supported me through the darkest moments. Your encouragement has meant more than you will ever know."

The verdict was heralded as a victory for common sense and greeted with scenes of wild celebration from supporters who gathered outside the two-hour hearing in Epsom, Surrey.

They included two of seven nurses who won a legal fight against County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust which allowed a biological male trans woman to share their changing room and undress in front of them.

Also present was nurse Sandie Peggie who was suspended by NHS Fife after she complained about having to share a changing room with transgender medic.

Despite the ruling by a three-member panel Ms Melle still intends to take legal action against on the grounds of harassment, discrimination, victimisation under the Equality Act, and breaches of her rights under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Maya Forstater, boss of sex-based rights charity Sex Matters, said: "Jennifer Melle never should have been in trouble at work for calling a man 'he'. She has been hung out to dry by her employer and her union, both of which seem to think the feelings of a paedophile matter more than biological reality.

"She went to the press in desperation. Everyone who hears her story is appalled by how she has been treated. Health Secretary Wes Streeting needs to get a grip on this and stop the transgender obsession that is corrupting the NHS."

Ms Melle's extraordinary two-year ordeal started when a 6ft sex offender subjected the single mum-of-two to a torrent of aggressive racial abuse when he arrived at St Helier Hospital in Carshalton, Surrey, from a men's prison shackled to two guards.

He was given treatment for a urinary infection which required him being fitted with a catheter.

Committed Christian Ms Melle referred to Patient X as "Mr" and "he" while she discussed his treatment instead of his preferred pronouns sparking a row that has split the NHS and sparked a national outcry.

An investigation for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust concluded: "Although there is no evidence that Patient X was identified because of the disclosure, Jennifer Melle's actions breached the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Conduct, undermined Trust policies, and carried significant risks to confidentiality, patient trust, and professional standards."

Her plight continued in spite of a Supreme Court judgement that stated biological sex is irrefutable in law.

Some 20,000 people signed a petition demanding her reinstatement, while MPs joined forces to demand the Trust acted with clemency.

Patient X was listed as male on medical records and referred to as "Mr" and "he" while Ms Melle discussed his treatment in 2024.

The Ugandan-born nurse told him: "Sorry I cannot refer to you as 'her' or 'she' as it's against my faith and Christian values but I can call you by your name."

She claimed this sparked a racially and religiously motivated barrage of abuse during which he lunged at her and repeatedly called her a "n*****".

Single mum Ms Melle, a band 5 outpatient nurse, was suspended in April and referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

She said: "I was racially abused in my workplace and instead of protecting me the Trust punished me.

"My Christian faith teaches me that sex is immutable. Nurses like me are left vulnerable while ideology trumps reality. This is not inclusion; it is discrimination."

Tory MP Claire Coutinho, the Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities who has supported Ms Melle throughout her ordeal praised those who pledged their support, saying: "You are heroes."

She added: "She did nothing wrong. Jennifer had an unblemished reputation until this incident.

"Even when faced with horrific racial abuse at work from a convicted paedophile she acted with courtesy and professionalism.

"The treatment she has suffered because of radical trans ideology beggars belief."

Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: "The Supreme Court has made it clear that biological sex is legally recognised, yet institutions are ignoring binding law while clinging to ideological policies.

"Failure to stand with Jennifer would have set a dangerous precedent: if professional bodies can disregard Supreme Court rulings and fail to protect the very people they were set up to look after then the rule of law itself is at risk."

Epsom and St Helier Hospitals NHS said: "Following an investigation into a breach of patient confidentiality we are pleased that a member of staff who was previously suspended on full pay is being reinstated to clinical duties. Racial abuse of our staff will never be tolerated and we are sorry that she had this experience."