Latest news with #changingrooms
Daily Mail
19-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Transgender doctor's complaint that she felt 'threatened' by much smaller nurse in female changing room row was 'plausible', senior medic says
A transgender doctor complained that she felt threatened by a 'much smaller' nurse in the female-only changing rooms at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, a tribunal has heard. A senior medic in the ongoing legal action between transgender medic Dr Beth Upton and nurse Sandie Peggie, said that it was 'plausible' that Dr Upton could have felt threatened. Dr Elspeth Pitt, a consultant in emergency medicine at NHS Fife, told the tribunal that Dr Upton was 'sobbing' following a confrontation with Ms Peggie. She added that her fellow doctor, who was born male but identifies as female, 'was really upset, she felt very fearful, and, at that time, had felt cornered'. Following the incident, Dr Pitt chaperoned Dr Upton to her car in case there was another encounter with the nurse and described the medic as feeling 'quite threatened'. The row between Ms Peggie and Dr Upton centres around the trans medic using a female-only changing room which led to the nurse accusing Fife Health Board of breaching the Equality Act. In the tribunal, in response to the suggestion Dr Upton felt threatened by her much smaller colleague, Charlotte Elves, Ms Peggie's junior counsel, said Dr Upton was a 'biological male in his 20s' who was around 6ft tall. In contrast, she described Ms Peggie as 'a woman in her 50s, far smaller' and countered Dr Pitt's suggestion that Dr Upton was made to feel unsafe by Sandie Peggie, calling it 'completely implausible'. Dr Pitt insisted it 'did not sound implausible to me' but clarified that the trans medic was not 'physically threatened' but 'frightened' by Ms Peggie's 'verbal attack'. The tribunal also heard from charge nurse Louise Curran, Ms Peggie's line manager, that Dr Upton had considered reporting the encounter to the police as a 'hate crime', The Telegraph reported. The row between Ms Peggie and Dr Upton centres on an incident on Christmas Eve 2023 where the nurse experienced a sudden and heavy period and feared that it had bled through to her scrubs. The nurse entered the female changing room and was surprised to find Dr Upton there. It was the last of three occasions Ms Peggie had encountered the doctor within the changing room at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, an employment tribunal in Dundee heard earlier this year. She challenged the doctor over her presence in the space that was labelled as a women's changing room, and just hours later a bullying complaint had been lodged by her. Ms Peggie was suspended from work at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on January 3 2024, after Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying and harassment, the tribunal heard earlier this year. Counter to the complaint, the nurse submitted a formal claim to the employment tribunal in May last year against NHS Fife and Dr Upton for sexual harassment, belief discrimination, and victimisation. Ms Peggie complained of being forced to share a single-sex space with someone she believed to be male. She also complained of being victimised for holding a gender-critical belief that biological sex is unchangeable. At the time of the complaint, Dr Upton was unable to hold a gender recognition certificate, meaning that technically the medic was legally male. Dr Pitt told the tribunal she found Dr Upton in a state of 'visible distress' in a corridor at around midnight, shortly after the 'unpleasant and painful' changing room confrontation. Dr Pitt said the medic had confided that she felt cornered and unable to escape Ms Peggie. She told the tribunal: 'She [Dr Upton] said she felt as if she had been cornered and that the end of a shift was not a good time to have this conversation, but it escalated and she felt she couldn't get away. She just felt very upset by what had been said to her.' Dr Pitt said that Ms Peggie had complained that the trans medic 'should not been in the changing room' and had made parallels with a 'convicted rapist', referring to trans rapist Isla Bryson who attacked two women in 2016 and 2019 but now identifies as a woman. Dr Pitt described Dr Upton as 'sobbing' after the encounter and then told the tribunal that she believed it was completely plausible that the trans medic had been made to feel unsafe by Ms Peggie. She said: 'There's no question to me, having met Dr Upton in that corridor, that she felt very threatened. 'And just to be clear, it was a verbal attack. It wasn't that she felt physically threatened. She just felt frightened because of things that had been said to her.' After walking her to her car, Dr Pitt sent an email to the medic's line manager, Dr Kate Searle, and Ms Peggie's line manager, asking to speak the following week. Ms Elves highlighted an email sent by Dr Searle on Dec 29 2023 to around 20 senior consultants in which she said she had spoken to Dr Upton. Dr Searle said that she had ensured that Dr Upton 'knows we all support her, and that we condemn the actions of Sandie'. Ms Elves asked Dr Pitt whether she engaged with three email chains about the incident 'as they were becoming increasingly partisan, condemnatory of Sandie Peggie, and you knew that was not appropriate.' Dr Pitt said: 'I don't use email as a form of conversation.' In a statement, the health board said: 'NHS Fife did not initiate the tribunal proceedings and is instead one of two 'respondents' being sued. 'NHS Fife cannot unilaterally stop proceedings – only the claimant can choose to withdraw the case. The claimant has said in a recent statement from her legal representatives that she is determined to continue with her legal claim, as she is entitled to do.' Earlier this week in a stunning development Ms Peggie was cleared of gross misconduct by an NHS Fife disciplinary hearing as part of separate proceedings brought against her.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Sainsbury's axes key feature in stores as customers say they will no longer shop there
Sainsbury's has axed a key feature of its stores leaving customers with no choice but to walk out as they brand the change 'ridiculous'. The supermarket giant quietly got rid of its changing rooms last September, affecting a small number of outlets - though the exact figure is yet to be disclosed. Shoppers are now being forced to try on clothing at home, The Sun reports, amid their frustration the removal is 'such a pain'. They have even taken to X - formerly Twitter - to vent their disapproval, with a number sarcastically commenting 'Well done Sainsbury's'. It comes as the lingering impact of the Coronavirus panic meant some customers were already asking questions as recently as 2023 as to why changing rooms were still closed for months after life returned to 'normal'. Sainsbury's said at the time it was 're-opening some of our fitting rooms at our stores with the biggest clothing ranges... following our customer's feedback'. A spokesman added: 'This is to ensure we are delivering the best possible shopping experience for our customers.' But now, shoppers are unhappy with the apparent backtrack and have even warned Sainsbury's it is 'losing sales'. It comes as the chain currently continues to sell its TU clothing range in many of its larger stores. A sign addressed to customers stuck up on a changing room door read: 'We're sorry our fitting rooms are now permanently closed. 'Please feel free to try any items at home and if you change your mind, we'll be happy to exchange or refund it for you in line with our policy.' One person said on X: 'Sainsbury's, why have all the changing rooms been closed? 'My wife won't buy anything she can't try on as it's a trek to return anything. You are losing sales.' Another wrote on Facebook: 'So Sainsbury's clothing department has decided to permanently close its changing rooms. 'Who's bright idea was that especially with the expensive concessions? 'Guess we will have to use the toilets then or strip down in-store. Ridiculous!' A third said: 'Noticed it a few weeks ago. Such a pain having to buy 2 sizes, I spend my life taking stuff back!!!' In one especially lengthy complaint, someone warned: 'Why spend money on building new changing rooms at Cobham Sainsbury's & then close them! One frustrated customer said: 'Why on earth do you have a clothing department but no changing rooms? A staff member has just told me they have been removed from all stores?' 'So you expect me to spend extra money to buy multiple sizes and then make another trip to return the items I don't need. Well done Sainsbury's you've just lost another customer.' And someone else concluded: 'Why on earth do you have a clothing department but no changing rooms? A staff member just told me they have been removed from all stores?' A Sainsbury's spokesman told MailOnline: 'Customers are increasingly choosing to try on items at home and last year we reviewed how we use our fitting room space differently to offer the best possible experience when they shop with us. 'Customers can return any unsuitable or faulty items during their store visits.' It comes as Sainsbury's is not the only supermarket giant to close its changing room doors. Shoppers at Asda and Tesco have also mourned the loss of the facilities, with it being understood that Tesco got rid of the feature - for its F&F clothing range - a number of years ago. One customer said: 'Asda's shut theirs too, went to buy my son a suit couldn't try it on so went else where.' Another said: 'That's Sainsbury's, Asda and Tesco now. 'I've asked the staff why and no-one has an answer.' Asda has said it is not aware of any changes to the changing rooms in its stores and it recently opened a George standalone store which allows customers to try on clothes. The grief has coincided with a rise in anti-shoplifting measures being deployed under a range of store brands such as AI cameras and anti-shoplifting plastic strips that sit loosely in front of products. It emerged last month the number of shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales had passed half a million for the first time in a year. An astonishing 516,971 offences were logged by forces in 2024, up 20 per cent from 429,873 in 2023.
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Sainsbury's confirms it's axed key feature in stores leaving shoppers furious
SAINSBURY'S has confirmed it has got rid of a key feature in its stores - and it's left customers fuming. The Sun can reveal that the major supermarket has closed all of its changing rooms, meaning shoppers will have to try on clothing items at home. 1 The change was quietly made last September. Sainsbury's sells its TU clothing range in many of its larger stores. The Sun understands a small number of stores were affected by the change although no exact figure has been given. Frustrated shoppers have blasted the change as "ridiculous" and "such a pain" as they're now having to buy and return items that don't fit. One person tweeted the supermarket saying: "@sainsburys #sainsburys Why have all the changing rooms been closed? "My wife won't buy anything she can't try on as it's a trek to return anything. You are losing sales." Another wrote on Facebook: "So Sainsbury's clothing department has decided to permanently close its changing rooms. "Who's bright idea was that especially with the expensive concessions. Guess we will have to use the toilets then or strip down in-store. Ridiculous!" A third person said: "Noticed it afew weeks ago. Such a pain having to buy 2 sizes, I spend my life taking stuff back!!!" Another shopper said they had to return three times to the supermarket as different sizes didn't fit. Shoppers run to bag on-trend spring dress with 'boho vibes' in Sainsbury's Others said they had stopped buying clothes from Sainsbury's as a result. A Sainsbury's spokesperson said: "Customers are increasingly choosing to try on items at home and last year we reviewed how we use our fitting room space differently to offer the best possible experience when they shop with us. "Customers can return any unsuitable or faulty items during their store visits." Sainsbury's is not the only supermarket to have removed changing rooms from its stores. The Sun understands that Tesco also got rid of its changing rooms a number of years ago. The major supermarket sells its F&F clothing range in larger stores. Shoppers have also complained about a loss of changing rooms in Asda stores. One customer said: "Asdas shut there's too, went to buy my son a suit couldn't try it on so went else where." Another said: "That's Sainsbury's, Asda and Tesco now. I've asked the staff why and no-one has an answer." Asda has said it is not aware of any changes to the changing rooms in its stores and it recently opened a George standalone store which allows customers to try on clothes. COMMENTS FROM SCOTT / MARTYN Supermarkets have been struggling with a rise in shoplifting since the cost of living crisis and have been taking measures to try to stop it. Home Bargains is deploying AI cameras that will automatically spot items leaving the shop that haven't been scanned. Tesco has installed anti-shoplifting plastic strips which sit loosely in front of its products and can slide from side to side freely if punters want to grab the item. And in Sainsbury's, shoppers who fail to scan items at self-checkouts will see VAR-style replays in a fresh clampdown on thefts. When looking for new pieces to add to your seasonal wardrobe, or update your basics, there's no need to spend hours walking around clothes shops, or scrolling online. Just pick up a dress or two alongside your fruit and veg... They're convenient - Chances are you visit your supermarket more times than a shopping centre or high street. It's affordable - For basics to more fashion-led pieces, supermarkets are leading the way for budget fashion that doesn't look cheap. They're more on-trend that you think - With a customer database larger than the average high street store, shops like ASDA, Sainsbury's and Tesco are able to cater to the markets and predict trends in a lot more areas than just food supply. They fit well - Fits and lengths often come with a little more modesty in mind. Fabrics are often highly practical too—think plenty of 100% cotton that can be thrown into the washing machine without thought.
Times
15-05-2025
- Health
- Times
NHS trust policy ‘allowed biological men to use women's changing room'
Guidance issued by an NHS hospital would allow men identifying as women to use female changing rooms, despite warnings that the policy breaks the law. Officials from the Royal College of Nursing wrote to senior administrators at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust to warn that Darlington Memorial Hospital was breaching 33-year-old workplace legislation that requires the provision of single-sex changing facilities for men and women. The row is the latest development in a legal battle over transgender policies at the trust, which a group of female nurses has claimed puts women 'at risk'. Lawyers for Bethany Hutchinson, Lisa Lockey, Annice Grundy, Tracey Hooper and Joanne Bradbury have begun a legal claim after the nurses claimed to have blown the whistle on the
