
Calls for NHS Fife boss to resign as trans tribunal nurse cleared of misconduct
Sandie Peggie, who worked at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, was accused of misconduct after she raised concerns around sharing the women's changing rooms with Dr Beth Upton, who is transgender.
The nurse was suspended from her role in 2024 and had been accused of misconduct, failures of patient care and misgendering Dr Upton.
Ms Peggie's suspension led to an employment tribunal, which is ongoing, in which the nurse launched a claim against Dr Upton and NHS Fife, citing the Equality Act 2010, including sexual harassment, harassment related to a protected belief, indirect discrimination and victimisation.
On Tuesday, NHS Fife said there was 'insufficient evidence' to support a finding of misconduct against Ms Peggie.
Now NHS Fife chief executive Carol Potter is being urged to resign, along with the authority's board.
Conservative MSP Tess White said: 'They have lost complete confidence and trust from the Scottish public. If I was working in NHS Fife, I would be shocked – 80% of the employees at NHS Fife are women.
'If I were John Swinney, I'd finally accept that there is no trust and confidence in the board of NHS Fife.'
Both NHS Fife and the Scottish Government say it would be inappropriate to respond to the MSP's comments while the employment tribunal is ongoing.
On Saturday, Sandie Peggie alleged her union, the Royal College of Nursing, failed to support her during her suspension from NHS Fife, claiming it 'failed to act like a trade union'.
The RCN has denied these allegations, and said the union had responded to the claim.
The employment tribunal will continue in Dundee on Monday.
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Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The witness said that after the trip she removed herself from the group chat and explained she 'wouldn't be spending time in Sandie's company'. 'Weirdo' Ms Nicoll alleged that at a lunch on September 4 2023, Ms Peggie referred to Dr Upton as 'it' and 'weirdo', the tribunal heard. Ms Nicoll said: 'I can distinctively remember her saying 'weirdo' at lunch.' She said that in February 2024 her ex-friend had posted in a group chat 'well it appears official, Sandie Peggie vs Beth Upton', and that Ms Peggie had inadvertently messaged someone in error 'asking for photos of that weirdo', the tribunal heard. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Asked about a message sent by Ms Peggie which read 'can you post a picture of that weirdo', Ms Nicoll said: 'I obviously didn't realise the weirdo she was referring to was Beth.' She said that Dr Upton was mentioned at the lunch 'immediately', the tribunal heard. The witness said: 'She started talking about a doctor who had been working in A&E about three or four weeks, she was really angry about the doctor being there, referring to the doctor as 'weirdo'; 'it'; 'him'. 'I remember someone saying 'why can't you live and let live?' She seemed full of anger and hate about this doctor who she had only just met.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad During cross-examination by Ms Peggie's lawyer, Naomi Cunningham, the witness agreed she was aware of allegations Dr Upton had 'caused chaos' in a previous job including allegedly complaining about being misgendered by dementia patients and admitted patient confidentiality could have been breached in the group chat, the tribunal heard. Ms Cunningham said: 'Do you agree your regulator places some stress on confidentiality, so sharing patient details, chatting about patients by name on a chat like this would be breach of regulations?' Ms Nicoll said: 'Yes, it would.' 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25 minutes ago
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