Nurse called transgender doctor ‘weirdo' and ‘it', tribunal told
She was placed on special leave after Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying and harassment, and cited concerns about 'patient care'.
Ms Peggie has lodged a claim against NHS Fife and Dr Upton, citing the Equality Act 2010, including sexual harassment; harassment related to a protected belief; indirect discrimination; and victimisation.
Lindsey Nicoll, an emergency nurse practitioner who became friends with Ms Peggie in 2010 and began holidaying with her in 2017, said the veteran nurse would use racial slurs and posted jokes about floods in Pakistan which killed 3,000 people into a 'Benidorm group chat' in 2017.
Ms Nicoll said that in 2024 the pair were at an airport when Ms Peggie allegedly saw a group of women wearing burkas and appeared 'disgusted', the tribunal heard.
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'.
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.
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.'
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.'
The witness provided 10 jokes shared by Ms Peggie regarding flooding in Pakistan, branding them 'racist', but admitted posting a laughing emoji when Ms Peggie posted saying 'Sorry folks if that makes me racist', the tribunal heard.
Ms Nicoll said she may have 'enabled' Ms Peggie and that it was 'likely' she had behaved as alleged towards Dr Upton, describing her as 'rude' and 'bigoted', the court heard.
Other users of the group chat posted jokes including about the adult baby diaper loving community, the tribunal heard.
Ms Cunningham said: 'Do you disagree you were the only member of the Benidorm group who disagrees with Sandie's stance?'
The witness said: 'My reason for feeling the way I do is to do with Sandie's views and how she likely behaved to the doctor. I accept everyone has got different views about being in a changing room with a transgender person.'
The witness denied she was 'hostile' to Ms Peggie but added: 'It's something I certainly felt strongly about and felt I needed to do.'
Messages written by Ms Nicoll were shared, including: 'She's a fanny who is going to end up with a massive payout, I hope she's struck off', and 'if anyone was to ask for statement about Sandie's character I would do it. She should be struck off, I hope she is', the tribunal heard.
Ms Cunningham said she was 'attempting to end Sandie's career', but the witness said she felt there was no place for 'bigotry' in nursing.
The witness said: 'I've watched her stare in disgust at people walking through an airport in burkas, I've heard her calling a transgender woman a weirdo, and I don't think it's acceptable, no.'
She added: 'I think it's important for people to understand Sandie's character, the bigoted racism that Sandie is all for. I don't think there is a place for it in nursing. I think we should be showing people compassion and empathy, and respect, and I don't think Sandie does that.'
Ms Peggie will be recalled at the hearing on Tuesday for further questions.
The tribunal continues.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Man, 30, put shoulder pain down to gym aches, then doctors asked where he'd like to die
Alex Able was diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer at the age of 29 and was told his treatment was 'terminated'. Not giving up hope, his family is fighting for a new treatment plan At just 29-years-old, Alex Able had his whole life ahead of him and was even looking to start a family with his wife, Elle. But just two years after the pair said 'I do' in 2021, doctors gave him a heart-shattering diagnosis, which confirmed he had one of the rarest forms of cancer in the world. Alex, now 30 and an engineer who lives in Kent with Elle, 27, and their two cats, Socks and Sage, first experienced shoulder pain in September 2023, but as an avid gym goer, didn't think much of it. The pain persisted and kept him awake at night, so Alex pushed for an MRI scan, and in November 2023, the results came back clear. It comes after a doctor's warning to people who drink even a 'single cup of tea'. READ MORE: Young man sent away from A&E 'five times' before devastating MS diagnosis The initial results came as a sigh of relief, but by May 2024, the pain had only intensified. This led to another scan and devastatingly, a large tumour was found on his shoulder and near his spinal cord. Surgeons managed to remove 90% of the mass, but 10% remained as it was too high-risk to disturb given how close it was to Alex's spine. His tumour was sent off for testing and just two weeks later, he was given a shocking diagnosis. "Our world came crashing down around us all," Alex's mother-in-law, Katie Bleach, 44, from Kent, said, who has been speaking to the media on her daughter Elle's and Alex's behalf. Alex was diagnosed with a Rhabdoid tumour - an aggressive and rare form of cancer that typically affects young children. This type or the disease is so rare that Katie said there are thought to be around 11 confirmed cases in Europe, with Alex believed to be the first case in the UK. "They [doctors] explained that Rhabdoid tumours behave like spider webs, fine strands that cling to whatever they can grab. Alex's was dangerously close to his spinal cord, attached to muscles and nerves controlling his arm movement," the distraught parent explained. Four weeks after his initial surgery, the tumour had grown back to its original size. He underwent intense radiotherapy, every day for six weeks, in an attempt to shrink the mass. "The radiotherapy caused burns and inflammation to his throat, and he struggled to eat or drink. He was losing weight rapidly, but he kept pushing through," Katie said. He then went on to have chemotherapy, and despite the odds, "started to build himself back up". At a halfway scan, small tumours appeared in his lungs, lower back, and shoulder bone, but as chemo continued by the end of December, the secondary tumours in his lung had halved in size and the patch in his lower back bone had gone. The original tumour on his shoulder "remained stable," and Alex and Elle started making plans for their future, including an exciting move from Kent to Shropshire. Alex finished chemo in March 2025 and celebrated his 30th birthday in the same month after a challenging few months. Heartbreakingly, at the end of April, Alex became unwell and experienced strange sensations in his legs and pain in his back. In just a few days, his health deteriorated, and further results revealed that the tumours in his lungs had returned. In addition, there were new growths in his lower back, which impacted his mobility, and two small lesions were in his brain. Katie shared: "Over the coming weeks, difficult decisions were made; they pulled out of their dream home, Wills were drawn up, conversations about his declining mobility and future care were had." Alex underwent radiotherapy to his brain and lower spine, and intense physiotherapy to help him walk again. Chemo also resumed, but the morning after the first of his third chemo cycle, Alex woke up and couldn't feel his legs. He had sudden paralysis from his chest down, and an MRI revealed that two new growths were found in his spine, bringing the total to seven tumours. Katie shared that before his diagnosis, Alex and Elle, who have been together since 2019 and got engaged just nine months later, "loved travelling, eating out, going on adventures, went out with friends a lot and were film buffs". She added: "Their hopes for the future were aligned; they were desperate to move to Shropshire, and both wanted to live in the countryside. They wanted a more outdoorsy life and were thinking of starting a family. Their adventures were only just beginning." On her daughter's reliance, Katie added: "She's the strongest. and the most courageous girls I know. She's been an absolute tower of strength to Alex, giving him nothing but love and encouragement with a constant belief that they're going to come through the other end." Due to the rarity of Alex's diagnosis and it not commonly being seen in adults, receiving treatment has been challenging. On July 11, Alex and his family were hit with the gut-wrenching news that his cancer was "now uncontrollable" and that his treatment was being terminated. Devastated Katie shared: "Despite what they might think is best for Alex, they aren't delivering any actual care; all they're doing is managing his symptoms." She continued: "He's comfortable and well looked after, but his condition in effect is only just getting worse." On Wednesday, 30 July, Katie said they had "the worst day in the last 18 months". She shared: "It was a horrific day. Alex was really uncomfortable; he had hardly any sleep the day before, and he woke up saying he was done. We all gathered around him thinking, he looks so ill, this is it, we've run out of time. "I think part of his feeling so low is that he's fully aware that his cancer is potentially progressing while he's been lying there. He was starting to lose hope." After Alex said he had had enough, Katie said he was offered to go home or to a hospice. "They essentially asked him where he would like to die," she added. Refusing to give up, the family have been researching alternative treatment routes outside of the NHS for the last three weeks and set up a GoFundMe page to help raise costs to cover Alex's treatment moving forward, including travel and any additional costs. After weeks of research and rejections, Katie connected with a Professor in Germany who, despite being unable to treat Alex personally, provided details of seven treatment options, all currently used in Germany's leading Rhabdoid tumour institute - the University Medical Centre, Augsburg. Professor Robin Jones of the Royal Marsden has since been in contact to say that he is willing to take on Alex's case privately. They are now waiting for further details on his transfer and what the treatment plan will look like for Alex. "Alex is absolutely over the moon, and he's raring to go again. He's always been so determined and said he's going to be the one success case and hopefully a pioneer for children with this awful disease," his mother-in-law said. "We've gone from the darkest place to now, there's some light at the end of the tunnel. We're feeling hopeful again. We will never give up on Alex because he's so determined to live."
The Herald Scotland
13 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Baillie: Urgent NHS Fife inquiry needed for Sandie Peggie
Ms Peggie is suing her employer and Dr Beth Upton after the nurse at Victoria Hospital objected to sharing a changing room with the transgender medic on Christmas Eve 2023. She was suspended on January 3, 2024, after Dr Upton submitted a complaint alleging bullying and harassment and two patient safety concerns. Ms Peggie was cleared of all four gross misconduct allegations after NHS Fife ruled there was "insufficient evidence". Speaking exclusively to The Herald, Dame Jackie said the Scottish must "end" it, adding there "absolutely" needs to be an independent investigation into the health board. She said: "I can't help but think of the 800,000 people on waiting lists across Scotland, many of whom are from Fife: the delayed discharges, the cancer waiting lists. Read more: "All of them exert the real pressures on the NHS and yet so much time of NHS Fife's senior management team has been devoted to this case." She added: "Sandra is a nurse and we should value our nurses. NHS Fife's primary responsibility is healthcare and dealing with patients, so why are they pitting staff groups against each other? "I also question the sense of NHS Fife being joint defenders in this action and I question the amount of money that's been spent on this and every day. NHS Fife are not covering themselves in glory." NHS Fife's legal costs reached £258,831 on June 30, 2025, but are likely to have soared since the tribunal resumed in July. Dame Jackie condemned the Scottish Government handling of the failed GRR legislation. (Image: Colin Mearns) In February, Dame Jackie, alongside party leader Anas Sarwar, said they would not vote for the GRR Bill "knowing what we know now". Labour MSPs were whipped to support the legislation in 2022, with Carol Mochan and Claire Baker losing their frontbench roles for opposing it. But Dame Jackie told [[The Herald]] that the party backed the legislation because the [[Scottish Government]] gave "reassurances" that all of the complexities would be discussed with the UK Government. Read more: The Scottish Government lost its Court of Session appeal against the UK Government's decision to block the legislation using a Section 35 of the Scotland Act. The court argued that the Scottish legislation would have a significant impact on equality law across the UK, particularly the Equality Act 2010. The Bill aimed to simplify the process for transgender people to obtain legal recognition of their acquired gender. It would have lowered the age for legal recognition and removed the requirement for a medical diagnosis, while also shortening the waiting time. The Scottish Labour deputy leader said: "There is no way on earth that Scottish ministers - and particularly the health minister - knew nothing about what was going to happen. I don't understand why we are still here. Some people believe it should play out, but to be frank, if I was the Scottish Government, I would have ended this. "The issue now is that Sandie Peggie won't be the only person. There will be other health boards and other public bodies. The government needs to move fast on this. It can't wait until after the election." "Practically, we need to see where there has been institutional capture and fix that," she added. "That's what the Scottish Government should do without waiting. I'm now in a place that says we should be inclusive of everybody in society but there's a way of doing it that safeguards the rights of others." Ms Baillie said she "had assurances on the record" that the Scottish Government would liaise with the UK Government. "Our fault was to believe the reassurances we'd been given that there were negotiations going on with the UK Parliament." A spokesperson for NHS Fife said: 'NHS Fife did not initiate the ongoing legal proceedings and is instead defending an action brought against it. 'While we recognise the significance of the ongoing tribunal, the Health Board has never lost sight of its core purpose, which is to provide the best possible healthcare services for the people of Fife. 'Furthermore, we remain committed to ensuring our working environments are respectful, inclusive, and supportive places for all of our staff, while fulfilling our statutory and legal obligations as an employer.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "It would be inappropriate to comment further while judicial proceedings in an Employment Tribunal are ongoing. 'This year, we are investing a record £21.7 billion in health and social care including £106 million to help health boards tackle the longest waits and deliver over 300,000 additional appointments."
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
NHS bosses ‘still on the hook' despite nurse Sandie Peggie's ‘racist' remarks, says Anas Sarwar
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NHS bosses are still in the firing line over their trans policy even if a nurse at the centre of a tribunal row did make 'racist' remarks, Anas Sarwar said. The Scottish Labour leader said 'horrific' remarks attributed to nurse Sandie Peggie about ethnic minorities does not detract from public bodies' duty to keep biological males out of female changing rooms. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Nurse Sandie Peggie was accused of making highly racist remarks Credit: Getty 4 She was suspended by NHS Fife for challenging trans Dr Beth Upton (pictured) about using the women's changing room Credit: Alamy 4 Anas Sarwar said Ms Peggie's remarks should not let NHS Fife off the hook Credit: Les Gallagher Ms Peggie has denied claims from two colleagues that she joked about posting bacon through the letterbox of a local mosque, insisting the remark came from a paramedic on the ward. Ms Peggie admitted she had a fear of the mosque being built in Kirkcaldy due to her having concerns about Sharia Law being introduced in the UK. She said did not dislike all Muslims and that her beliefs did not mean she would ever treat patients differently. The nurse, who worked for 30 years with NHS Fife, also said a number of racist jokes in a WhatsApp chat regarding flooding in Pakistan that killed nearly 2,000 people in 2022 was humour, intended to try and shock people. The nurse said she had used derogatory terms to describe people from Pakistan and China because these were common terms when she was growing up. She said people of those ethnicities that she knew were not offended when the terms had been used. MSP Mr Sarwar said: 'Those comments, if they are as attributed, are completely and utterly unacceptable. 'But we have also got to be really careful that we don't distract from the big issues that matter. 'Just because we might find these comments attributed horrific doesn't mean health boards and the Scottish Government should not comply with the Equality Act and protect single sex spaces based on biological sex. 'We can do that while also building a society that is free of prejudice of any kind, including racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, antisemitism and Islamophobia.' NATS health secretary Neil Gray today failed to back nurse Sandie Peggie amid a row over single-sex space
