Sign in Subscribe
Physicians

Emails Reveal NHS Fife's Attempt to Balance Staff Conflict in Sandie Peggie Case

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Nurse Sandie Peggie is suing NHS Fife and trans doctor Beth Upton for sexual harassment after an incident in a hospital changing room in 2023. Emails reveal that hospital bosses tried to avoid the pair working together after the incident, but multiple attempts were made to find a compromise. The tribunal is set to resume in September, with a final decision expected at the end of the year.

Key Takeaways:

  • NHS Fife considered multiple options to avoid having nurse Sandie Peggie and trans doctor Beth Upton work together, including putting Peggie on day shifts or temporarily moving her to another department.
  • A risk assessment determined that Peggie should not work at the same time as Upton, and she was initially proposed to be moved onto day shifts for support.
  • Peggie refused to work day shifts, citing personal reasons, and a compromise was later reached to allow her to return to work on night shifts with senior support.
  • Despite the compromise, Peggie and Upton nearly ended up on the same shifts multiple times due to rota mix-ups, with two "close calls" documented by Upton.
  • The tribunal in Dundee has ended its evidence session and will resume in September for closing oral statements, with a final decision expected at the end of the year.
  • Peggie was re-questioned on the final day of evidence sessions and defended against accusations of racism, homophobia, and transphobia.

Statistics:

  • 2 near misses where Dr Upton was told it was "not safe" to work due to rota mix-ups.
  • 24 hours notice given to Dr Upton before she was scheduled to work a night shift because Peggie was scheduled to work at the same time.
  • Multiple attempts made to find a compromise between Peggie's and Upton's schedules.

Sources:

  • https://www.scotsman.com/news/humiliation-for-nhs-fife-after-sandie-peggie-case-will-lead-to-more-tribunal-settlements-5253282
  • https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/nhs-fife-you-have-to-trust-the-journalists-reporting-on-the-sandie-peggie-v-dr-beth-upton-case-5251710
  • https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nhs-fife-employment-tribunal-recap-the-latest-in-the-sandie-peggie-and-dr-beth-upton-case-5244152
  • https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/what-happens-next-in-the-sandie-peggie-v-dr-beth-upton-trans-changing-room-tribunal-5247781

Read more