logo
NHS Fife reveals £220k legal bill in Sandie Peggie tribunal

NHS Fife reveals £220k legal bill in Sandie Peggie tribunal

It simply said: 'NHS Fife can confirm that, as of 31 May 2025, a total of £220,465.93 has been incurred in legal costs relating to an ongoing Employment Tribunal case brought against the board. This figure includes Counsel fees and services provided by NHS Scotland's Central Legal Office.
'These costs will be reclaimed through the national Clinical Negligence and Other Risks Indemnity Scheme (CNORIS). Under CNORIS, NHS Fife's financial liability is limited to £25,000, which ensures that the legal proceedings do not impact frontline clinical or patient services.
'NHS Fife is not in a position to estimate the full cost of proceedings while the Tribunal remains ongoing.'
More to follow...
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sergeant sues RAF after missing promotion chance when pregnant
Sergeant sues RAF after missing promotion chance when pregnant

Telegraph

time7 hours ago

  • Telegraph

Sergeant sues RAF after missing promotion chance when pregnant

A sergeant is suing the RAF for discrimination after she missed out on promotion because a fitness test got cancelled when she was pregnant. Sgt Haylee Curtis is taking RAF bosses to an employment tribunal as she claims that she was unable to advance rank without a fitness test, which was cancelled. Her official medical records stated it was cancelled three days before the test 'due to being pregnant', a hearing was told. Sgt Curtis has now been given permission to sue the Ministry of Defence after winning an appeal at the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT). Her pregnancy discrimination case had been thrown out at an employment tribunal in Watford, but the EAT ruled that legal mistakes had been made in the dismissal of the original claim. The appeal hearing in London was told that Sgt Curtis alleges that she was discriminated during her pregnancy and maternity leave during 2017 and into 2018. She was a corporal at the time, and was eligible for promotion to sergeant and had to wait for a vacancy. The tribunal heard that she had injured herself playing netball and was medically downgraded, with a full fitness certificate required to apply for opportunities at the sergeant rank. She was due to attend the medical board in August 2017, so that she could have her fitness tested but it was cancelled because of her pregnancy. The EAT heard that Sgt Curtis believed that 'the cancellation of her medical board appointment, was discriminatory'. Sgt Curtis has since been promoted to sergeant, but she claimed that the discrimination 'had long term consequences for her career and career earnings'. She said that her career extension – referring to the period of career security service personnel are afforded, and whether it will be lengthened beyond an initial contracted term – would have been 'significantly longer' if she had been promoted at an earlier date.

Three new cancer drugs approved for use for NHS Scotland
Three new cancer drugs approved for use for NHS Scotland

The Herald Scotland

time9 hours ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Three new cancer drugs approved for use for NHS Scotland

However, the SMC did approve the drug brentuximab vedotin, also known as Adcetris, to be used together with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for adult patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma – an uncommon cancer that develops in the lymphatic system. SMC vice chair Graeme Bryson said the treatment could 'help increase how long people with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma have before their cancer gets worse'. Meanwhile, zanubrutinib, also known as Brukinsa, was accepted to treat adults with mantle cell lymphoma – a rare type of the blood cancer non-Hodgkin lymphoma. READ MORE: The SMC has also approved the drug ripretinib – also known as Qinlock – to treat adults with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours, which are a rare type of cancer of the digestive system. In addition to these drugs it has agreed the NHS can use mirikizumab, also known as Omvoh, for adults with Crohn's disease, a lifelong condition which is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. However, the SMC rejected the drug dupilumab, also known as Dupixent, as a treatment on the NHS for adults with COPD that is controlled on current standard treatments. Mr Bryson said: 'The committee is pleased to be able to accept these new medicines for use by NHS Scotland. 'Brentuximab vedotin, used together with chemotherapy, could help increase how long people with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma have before their cancer gets worse. 'Ripretinib provides a fourth-line treatment for advanced gastro-intestinal stromal tumours where currently there is no standard treatment available. 'Zanubrutinib offers an additional oral targeted treatment option for patients with mantle cell lymphoma who have already received one or more lines of treatment. 'Mirikizumab offers an additional treatment option for people with moderate to severe Crohn's disease whose disease is not controlled on standard or biologic treatment.' However he added: 'The committee was unable to accept dupilumab for treating patients with COPD as the company's evidence around the cost-effectiveness of the treatment was not sufficient. We would welcome a resubmission from the company.'

'Sandie Peggie tribunal has escalated campaign against trans people'
'Sandie Peggie tribunal has escalated campaign against trans people'

The Herald Scotland

time16 hours ago

  • The Herald Scotland

'Sandie Peggie tribunal has escalated campaign against trans people'

Ms Peggie, who has worked as a accident and emergency nurse for more than 30 years, was placed on special leave from her role at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife after Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying, harassment and patient safety concerns. Ms Peggie had complained about having to share a women's changing room with Dr Upton on Christmas Eve 2023 and has taken an employment tribunal against NHS Fife and Dr Upton claiming she was subject to unlawful harassment under the Equality Act. The Dundee Tribunal Hearing Centre last month heard that Ms Peggie had describing Dr Upton as a "weirdo" and referring to the medic as "it". READ MORE: Asked about her use of language towards Dr Upton, Mr Greer said: "This is just one example of the wider onslaught against the basic dignity of trans people in this country right now." He added: "This tribunal has escalated what was already an absolutely shameful campaign against trans people. Putting aside the specifics of this tribunal, there is clearly an attempt to force trans people out of public life in Scotland. "It's not isolated just to Scotland but I think we have a particular problem...I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for trans people to go out, live their daily lives, to go shopping, go to the office if they don't even know if they can use the toilet in a shopping centre. "It's not just trans people who are being hurt by this, although that's what we should focus on. We are seeing anyone who doesn't conform to traditional ideas of gender being attacked. "A woman who was not trans was forced to leave a shop because she used the women's toilet and someone else was convinced she was have we got to a point where if a woman doesn't conform to a very traditional idea of femininity she is to be attacked and forced to leave a toilet in a shop." Sandie Peggie, left, and Dr Beth Upton (Image: PA) At the hearing, Ms Peggie admitted some remarks made about Dr Upton in a WhatsApp chat were derogatory and demeaning, but added they were only made between a small group of friends. She denied waging a "vindictive campaign" against Dr Upton. Documents presented in evidence to the tribunal also show Ms Peggie making racist comments in an online group chat mocking the victims of the Pakistan floods in 2022, which killed over 1,700. Between June and October 2022, monsoon floods devastated Pakistan, submerging one third of the South Asian nation, leaving millions homeless and injuring nearly 13,000. The official death toll was 1,739. She said the 'distasteful" posts were sent as an attempt at 'dark humour' has strongly denied accusations of racism. The nurse also denied evidence from two colleagues that she said previously said she wanted to post bacon through the letterbox of a mosque in Kirkcaldy. Ms Peggie also admitted to the use of the racist slur 'P***', but defended this saying the term was commonplace where she lived and grew up in Glenrothes, Fife Mr Greer told The Herald: "The kind of racist comments that Sandie Peggie was found to have said to colleagues are wildly unacceptable." He said the terms Ms Peggie used to describe Dr Upton was "unquestionably bigoted and hateful language". The Nursing and Midwifery Council told The Herald that Section 20 of its code of conduct members of the profession should "uphold the reputation of your profession at all times". A spokeswoman said: "It says that nurses, midwives and nursing associates must treat people fairly without discrimination, bullying or harassment. It also states that individuals should be aware of how their behaviour can affect and influence the behaviour of others, be sure not to express personal beliefs inappropriately and use all forms of communication responsibly. "The Code applies in both a person's professional and personal life - professionals on our register must 'uphold the reputation of [their] profession at all times' to help maintain the public's trust and confidence." Responding to Mr Greer's comments, Susan Smith, of For Women Scotland (FWS), which has intervened in the case, said: "Sandie Peggie is not on trial here - any poor taste comments are completely irrelevant to her right to a single-sex changing room. If human rights are to mean anything, they have to be universal. "Some might think that "weirdo" is a mild way to describe a man who insists on stripping off in a room of women who did not consent to his presence. We note that Mr Greer has never condemned the vile threats trans activists target at women. Indeed, on previous occasions he has defended some truly vile groups saying that he "supports trans people not transphobes". Once again, it seems, women's words are painted as worse than men's violence." The tribunal will resume on September 1, for two days of oral submissions summarising both sides of the case. The three person panel will then take time to consider a written ruling - a process that could take some time. Ms Peggie was cleared of gross misconduct following disciplinary proceedings by NHS Fife - a decision announced on 16 July, the same day the tribunal resumed after a five month pause in proceedings. The nurse had faced allegations of misconduct, failures of patient care and misgendering Dr Upton. NHS Fife said an internal hearing found there was "insufficient evidence to support a finding of misconduct". NHS Fife confirmed no formal sanction had been imposed on the nurse and that the review panel decided a "facilitated reflective practice discussion" would be appropriate.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store