Swinney ‘supports' NHS Fife after trans medic row nurse cleared of misconduct
Nurse Sandie Peggie complained about Dr Beth Upton being granted access to female changing facilities, and has taken Dr Upton and bosses at NHS Fife to an employment tribunal.
As tribunal proceedings resumed on Wednesday, it emerged Ms Peggie has been cleared of gross misconduct allegations following a separate disciplinary hearing by the health board.
Scottish Conservative equalities spokeswoman Tess White said: 'This decision confirms what we've known all along – Sandie Peggie did nothing wrong.
'NHS Fife's credibility lies in tatters and senior bosses owe Sandie an immediate and unreserved apology.'
First Minister John Swinney however insisted: 'NHS Fife has my confidence and support.
'They've got important work to do to deliver for the healthcare needs people of Fife, and that's what I expect them to.'
He said the disciplinary process had 'examined issues about the alleged conduct of Sandie Peggie' and had now 'reached its conclusion'.
The First Minister added: 'It is important that these processes are fair to all parties and that is what has been taken forward here and it has reached its conclusion.
'There is obviously an employment tribunal that has been brought by Sandie Peggie that is currently under way.
'It's not appropriate for me to comment on the live proceedings that are under way in that process.'
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: 'It's frankly astonishing that John Swinney is still backing this discredited health board to the hilt.
'They've dragged a dedicated nurse through a traumatic disciplinary hearing and tried to cover up the hundreds of thousands they have already squandered on this tribunal.
'SNP ministers have ignored countless warnings that NHS Fife was failing to comply with their legal obligations.
'It raises a serious question, what exactly would this health board have to do to lose the First Minister's confidence?
'Instead of defending the indefensible, John Swinney should finally stand on the side of women and girls and ensure that NHS Fife and other public bodies are following the law by always providing single-sex spaces.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Woman in her 70s 'gets life back' after shedding six stone
A woman in her 70s said she has "got her life back" after shedding an incredible six stone. Pauline Spencer, from Cromer, decided she wanted to lose weight two years ago when she was battling low self-esteem. She went to see her GP for help and was put on a waiting list for a referral for weight loss injections. Pauline Spencer initially saw her GP about taking a weight loss injection (Image: Supplied) The GP suggested she join her local Slimming World group for support while she waited. Her consultant Steve and the rest of the group were so helpful that the pounds started dropping off in no time, and she no longer felt the need to take the medication. "I've now found the magic want I thought didn't exist," Pauline said. READ MORE: Pauline was fed up of living with obesity and low self esteem (Image: Supplied) "And it wasn't a drug!" After the weight loss, Pauline has felt much happier in her own body and mind. The 71-year-old can join her friends for early morning walks, dance sessions and fitness classes. READ MORE: NNUH team wins national award for innovative patient monitoring system Pauline now feels better than ever (Image: Supplied) She has also started running craft and hobby sessions in the local area, which her former self never would have imagined doing. Pauline has just nine pounds left to lose until she reaches her target, but consultant Steve said she is "already a winner in every way that matters".
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
UnitedHealth (UNH) Faced a Significant Downturn in Q2. Here's Why
Wedgewood Partners, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the second quarter, Wedgewood Composite's net return was 7.1% compared to the Standard & Poor's 10.9%, the Russell 1000 Growth Index's 17.8%, and the Russell 1000 Value Index's 3.8% return for the same period. In addition, you can check the fund's best 5 holdings to know its best picks in 2025. In its second quarter 2025 investor letter, Wedgewood Partners highlighted stocks such as UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH). UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is a diversified healthcare company that operates through UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx segments. The one-month return of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) was -4.62%, and its shares lost 49.04% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On July 17, 2025, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) stock closed at $288.07 per share, with a market capitalization of $261.32 billion. Wedgewood Partners stated the following regarding UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter: "UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) was a leading detractor from performance during the quarter. Medical costs in their key Medicare Advantage business are spiking as the Company uncharacteristically misjudged the morbidity of its newest members. Additionally, there was another rare miss for what we believed was the 'Tiffany' health care operator, which fumbled their execution at Optum Health. This oversight led to the Company pulling their 2025 earnings guidance along with the turnover of key management, including their CEO. We were surprised by the severity of this miss along with the execution missteps, and we decided to liquidate our holdings because the long-term, double-digit growth trajectory of the Company has been thrown into question." A senior healthcare professional giving advice to a patient in a clinic. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is in 18th position on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 139 hedge fund portfolios held UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) at the end of the first quarter, which was 150 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of UNH as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. In another article, we covered UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) and shared Vulcan Value Partners' views on the company. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q2 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Coroner warning over incompatible NHS systems
A Hull coroner has warned NHS bosses that delays to the availability of mental health assessments between different teams due to outdated IT systems could lead to future deaths. Prof Paul Marks, senior coroner for Hull and East Riding, issued a prevention of future deaths report following an inquest into the death of John Kirkman, who took his own life. Prof Marks said healthcare teams could encounter problems accessing "vital" information about patients as a result of incompatible computer programmes and this could lead to delays in care. The report, sent to the chief executive of NHS England, said the organisation should take action, "possibly by reviewing the compatibility of IT systems". The report said Mr Kirkman, who was 36, had a long history of paranoid schizophrenia and took his own life on 27 December 2023. During the inquest, the coroner said the evidence revealed matters that caused him concern. Prof Marks said that if a mental health screening assessment was carried out in one part of the country, the results and conclusions may not be immediately available elsewhere when a further assessment is carried out, due to the use of different IT systems. "Absence of vital background information could result in an incorrect prioritisation for onward referral, as it did in this case," he said. The lack of availability of clinical information and data may "adversely influence subsequent assessments", he said. The coroner said NHS England had 56 days to respond with details of action taken or a proposed timetable of action. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices More on this story NHS computer issues linked to patient harm 'Outdated' IT leaves NHS staff juggling 15 logins Related internet links NHS England
