hospital: Last News

A Scots nurse who was suspended after she objected to sharing a changing room with a transgender doctor has claimed she "did not see any signs of distress" after a row, a tribunal has heard.

Sandie Peggie, who has worked at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, for 30 years was put on leave then suspended in January 2024 after a complaint by Dr Beth Upton, a trans woman, following the incident on Christmas Eve in 2023.

Ms Peggie was accused of bullying and harassment, but went on to lodge her own complaint of sexual harassment or harassment related to protected beliefs under section 26 of the Equality Act 2010, regarding three incidents where she shared the female changing room with Dr Upton. She claimed that being made to get changed beside the doctor amounted to unlawful harassment.

On Wednesday, February 5, Ms Peggie gave evidence at an employment tribunal in Dundee and said her line manager had advised her to speak to Dr Upton.

She had previously told the tribunal she felt "embarrassed and intimidated" following the incident on Christmas Eve. However, this was disputed by NHS Fife, who described the case as "unnecessary and vexatious".

Judge Alexander Kemp said: “I understand from what you said that you were aware (Dr Upton) might be using the changing rooms.”

Ms Peggie said: “It was just chitchat at work. It was being discussed. The staff members were just chatting about Beth and that he was a trans woman. I had mentioned ‘as long as he’s not getting changed in a female changing area’.”

Giving evidence, she said she spoke to her line manager, Esther Davidson, in August 2023, and told the tribunal: “I was hoping she would give advice and speak to someone in management or HR.”

Ms Peggie said she later asked what the outcome was, and added: “She had spoken to equality and diversity and if I was in that situation again I would have to speak to Beth.”

After an incident in October 2023 when she was partially undressed and Dr Upton walked in, Ms Peggie spoke to her line