There was no risk… Peggie would not have treated trans patients differently, boss tells tribunal
Sandie Peggie, 51, is suing NHS Fife and Dr Beth Upton after being made to change next to the born-male medic at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.
She was suspended after confronting the 30-year-old resident doctor in the female-only changing room.
Yesterday service manager Lottie Myles told the landmark employment tribunal brought by the veteran nurse that the dispute was a 'she said/she said' situation where there was 'nobody who could provide evidence'.
And the witness, who started work at NHS Fife just six months before the changing room incident, said there were no patient safety concerns and that Ms Peggie would not have treated trans patients differently to any others.
The tribunal in Dundee entered its second week of the latest string of hearings yesterday.
Just days after the changing room incident Mrs Peggie was suspended. Ms Myles reviewed the suspension later in 2024.
The tribunal heard claims that Mrs Peggie was 'homophobic and there were elements of racism in her beliefs' but Ms Myles dismissed them as 'hearsay' and claims which 'haven't been documented or there's little evidence of'.
The Accident and Emergency nurse had told the manager she would not treat a transgender patient any differently to anybody else, the tribunal heard.
Ms Myles said: '[Mrs Peggie] has been a nurse for 30 years, I'm sure in that time she has dealt with transgender patients.
'I felt confident and reassured there were no patient safety concerns.'
When patient safety concerns were raised, the tribunal heard, 'nobody could confirm' them and Ms Myles branded them 'hearsay'.
Ms Myles, who made the decision to lift the suspension on March 7, told the tribunal two senior consultants and two senior nurses 'weren't happy' at the decision.
But those expressing their concern were not able to give an 'accurate response' regarding the alleged patient safety concerns.
The tribunal was told that Dr Kate Searle had 'expressed unhappiness' at bringing Mrs Peggie back to work.
It was told: '[Dr Searle] made a comment saying there had been patient safety issues, there had been other behaviours towards a doctor.
'I asked if this had been investigated and reported appropriately, and she said no.
'I said that if these events had happened and they had not been reported, you were culpable.'
Ms Myles had been asked to help oversee Mrs Peggie's return to work and had proposed she work in a different hospital.
But this was rejected by the nurse. It was eventually agreed to put the pair on opposite shifts in what was described as a 'compromise'.
On Friday NHS Fife published a statement online which critics have said was an attempt to 'smear' the veteran nurse and the charity supporting her.
Yesterday Mrs Peggie's legal team said they have now asked the embattled health board to confirm the names of those who signed off on the statement.
MSP Tess White, of the Scottish Conservatives, said: 'Senior officials should come clean over who authorised the outrageous statement issued last Friday, so that those responsible are made to carry the can.'
The tribunal continues.
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