Scots nurse suspended over row with trans colleague tells tribunal she 'felt intimidated' getting changed
A Scots nurse suspended after a row with a transgender colleague over sharing a changing room has been giving evidence at an employment tribunal and said she felt "embarrassed and intimidated".Sandie Peggie, from Fife, was put on leave and then suspended in January 2024 following an exchange with colleague, Dr Beth Upton, who is a trans woman.Ms Peggie, who has been a nurse for NHS Fife for over 30 years, claims being made to get changed beside Dr Upton amounted to unlawful harassment under the Equality Act.She told the first day of the tribunal that she felt "embarrassed and intimidated" when Dr Upton started getting changed in the room at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, in December 2023.However this is disputed by NHS Fife, which has described the case as unnecessary and vexatious.NHS guidance states that trans men and women are allowed to use the changing rooms that align with their gender identity.Ms Peggie successfully argued that the tribunal should be heard in public after Dr Upton and NHS Fife had asked for the tribunal in private to protect the identities of those involved.It was also ruled that Ms Peggie could refer to Dr Upton as a man throughout the tribunal, as long as it was not done "offensively" or "gratuitously".However the application to refer to Dr Upton as her dead name was deferred by the judge.Ms Peggie explained to the tribunal that she felt uncomfortable when she encountered Dr Upton in the changing room on three occasions and said: “He looked male.
He had his hair in a ponytail and a receding hairline and Adam’s apple.”In August 2023, she opened the door to the changing room and saw the medic inside and stepped outside until Dr Upton left.
One one occasion in October or November she claimed that Dr Upton walked in while she was wearing a bra and this led to her contacting her line manager about the matter.The nurse claimed other female members of staff had expressed discomfort with Dr Upton using the women's changing rooms.Ms Peggie told the
