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Physicians

Nurse Cleared of Gross Misconduct Allegations Over Transgender Doctor Dispute

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Sandie Peggie, a nurse at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, has been cleared of gross misconduct allegations over her dispute with a transgender doctor, Dr Beth Upton. The nursing staff member was suspended on January 3, 2024, after she complained about having to share a female changing room with Dr Upton. The allegations against Ms. Peggie were initially to be heard in an employment tribunal but were cleared just one day before the hearing resumed. This decision was made following a separate health board disciplinary hearing on June 25.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sandie Peggie, a nurse at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, was suspended on January 3, 2024, after complaining about sharing a female changing room with trans medic Dr Beth Upton.
  • Ms. Peggie had taken the health board and Dr. Upton to tribunal, lodging a complaint of sexual harassment or harassment related to a protected belief under section 26 of the Equality Act 2010.
  • The employment tribunal had adjourned until Wednesday, and hours before it was set to resume, Ms. Peggie's solicitor confirmed that she had been cleared of gross misconduct allegations.
  • The gross misconduct allegations against Ms. Peggie included two patient care failures, one of "misgendering" Dr. Upton, and one relating to the encounter with Dr. Upton in the workplace female-only changing room on Christmas Eve 2023.
  • NHS Fife has spent more than £220,000 defending itself in the employment tribunal, which was uncovered following an intervention by Scotland's information commissioner.
  • The employment tribunal resumes on Wednesday in Dundee and is expected to last 11 days.

Statistics:

  • Sandie Peggie has been cleared of gross misconduct allegations just one day before her employment tribunal resumes.
  • The health board disciplinary hearing that cleared Ms. Peggie's name took place on June 25.
  • The employment tribunal resumes on Wednesday in Dundee and is expected to last 11 days.
  • NHS Fife has spent more than £220,000 defending itself in the employment tribunal.
  • The grounds for Ms. Peggie's complaint were under section 26 of the Equality Act 2010, regarding three incidents of indirect harassment, victimization, and whistleblowing.

Sources:

  • Pa Wire
  • Scotland's information commissioner's office
  • NHS Fife
  • Margaret Gribbon, Sandie Peggie's solicitor

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