NHS nurse who complained about sharing changing room with transgender doctor cleared of bullying
Nurse Sandie Peggie was suspended from Victoria Hospital in Fife, Scotland in January last year after a transgender medic, Dr Beth Upton, made allegations of bullying and harassment towards Ms Peggie.
Ms Peggie was stood down while the hospital board considered four gross misconduct allegations against her, including one of misgendering the doctor and over an encounter with the doctor in the female-only changing room.
Dr Upton also cited concerns about 'patient care'.
Ms Peggie then took the health board and the doctor to the employment tribunal, lodging her own complaint of sexual harassment over incidents in that changing room.
Ms Peggie's lawyer, Margaret Gribbon, said the night before the tribunal was due to recommence hearings, the Fife health board decided not to uphold the misconduct allegations towards her client.
'Sandie is relieved and delighted that this 18-month-long internal process has concluded and cleared her of all allegations," she said.
NHS Fife confirmed it had concluded its internal investigation into the nurse's conduct.
"It considered several allegations, including regarding interactions between colleagues and patient care," the health board said.
"After reviewing the evidence presented, including written submissions and witness testimony, the panel found that there was insufficient evidence to support a finding of misconduct.
"While no formal sanctions have been imposed, the panel concluded that a facilitated reflective practice discussion would be appropriate."
The employment tribunal hearing will continue to take place and is expected to resume on Wednesday and last 11 days.
The tribunal began in Dundee in February but resumes after the UK Supreme Court ruled in April that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex'.
NHS Fife has spent more than £220,000 defending itself in the employment tribunal so far.
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