JK Rowling has hit out at the boss of a union who accused Wes Streeting of ‘pandering to anti-trans bigotry’ after nurses demanded a female-only changing room.

Unison president Steve North made the comments in response to five Darlington nurses last week meeting the health secretary over concerns that current changing rooms would allow trans women to share their facilities.

Posting on social media last night, he wrote: ‘It is deeply concerning that Wes Streeting appears to be once again pandering to anti-Trans bigotry. In our year of LGBT+ workers, I stand, as UNISON President with the Trans community.’

But controversial gender critic Rowling hit back: ‘You posted in support of female nurses being compelled to undress in front of a male. Millions of women stand with the Darlington nurses.’

The row erupted after five female nurses, Lisa Lockey, Bethany Hutchison, Annice Grundy, Tracey Hooper and Joanne Bradbury, protested that Darlington Memorial Hospital’s decision to allow a transgender woman to use their facilities, rather than being forced to use male ones, is ‘putting women at risk’.

The Darlington Nurses are protesting over a trans woman being permitted to share changing room facilities at their hospital

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JK Rowling has said ‘millions’ of people support a group of nurses as she hit back at the union leader

The nurses claim the employee, Rose, has ‘stared at their breasts’ and ‘lingered too long’ in the changing room, as well as repeatedly asking them whether they are getting changed.

They have now handed in a petition to Downing Street about the issue, and met with the Health Secretary in person.

Mr Streeting previously posted on social media that he ‘[supports] the nurses and I’m horrified that they’ve had to resort to legal action.’

The nurses said he wants an outcome ‘not everyone will love but people can live with’. They added he said: ‘Single sex spaces matter.’

The nurses have launched legal action against County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust. They claim Rose is not on hormone therapy.

They have also launched their own trade union, accusing their former union of failing to support them.

After 26 nurses wrote to HR and senior management outlining their concerns, they were told via HR that they needed to be ‘re-educated’, ‘broaden their mindset’ and be more ‘inclusive’.

Last night Mr North accused the Health Secretary of ‘pandering to anti-trans bigotry’, and then drew attention to the torrent of abuse he received as a result.

He said: ‘I posted in support of Trans rights and the result has been a torrent of abuse, including being called a pervert and a paedophile.

‘If this is what I get for showing solidarity with Trans people, imagine what trans people face. Let’s stand with LGBT+ comrades.’

Rowling said of Wes Streeting: ‘Bothering to listen to regular women has been in short supply lately, so fair play to him.’

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Unison president Steve North made the comments in response to five Darlington nurses last week meeting the health secretary over concerns that current changing rooms would allow trans women to share their facilities

Health Secretary Wes Streeting previously posted on social media that he ‘[supports] the nurses and I’m horrified that they’ve had to resort to legal action’

Responding to Mr North’s comments, Darlington nurse, Bethany Hutchison, who is also President of the Darlington Nursing Union, said: ‘76% of Unison members are women, so this is not a great look for Mr North.

‘He has, however, encapsulated perfectly why we are faced with what we are and why we have had to launch our own Union to defend basic women’s rights and dignity at work.

‘We are grateful to all those who have spoken out in our defence following Mr North’s comments.’

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting the nurses, said: ‘Mr North’s comments reveal the extent of the issues at the heart of the Unions which have been completely captured by transgender ideology to the point they can no longer represent and support the majority of their members.

‘The Darlington Nursing Union provides a new vision and voice for truth, equity and justice. The Darlington Nursing Union will demonstrate what it really means to be tolerant, kind and fair on these issues in the workplace.’