Nurse Wins Harassment Claim After Women’s Changing Room Dispute With Transgender Doctor

Scottish nurse Sandie Peggie has won an employment tribunal harassment claim after objecting to sharing a women’s changing room with a transgender doctor. However, the tribunal dismissed her other discrimination allegations against the health board.

What Peggie Won—and What Was Dismissed

Peggie’s case stems from a workplace dispute at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy involving shared female changing facilities. She was later cleared of misconduct related to the changing room incident with her colleague, Dr. Beth Upton, a doctor who identifies as transgender.

Then, on August 6, 2025, Peggie’s solicitor, Margaret Gribbon, confirmed a legal action filed against NHS Fife and three senior managers—Dr. Kate Searle, Dr. Maggie Currer, and Esther Davidson—alleging harassment and victimisation linked to Peggie’s gender-critical beliefs. The claim, brought under the Equality Act 2010, accused the board and managers of attempting to block Peggie’s return to work after her 2024 suspension.

Original Case: What Happened?

According to the original case documents, Peggie—an A&E nurse at Victoria Hospital—was placed on suspension in January 2024 after raising concerns about sharing female changing facilities with Dr. Upton. The dispute followed three incidents in the A&E department and ended with an official complaint and Peggie being placed on leave.

Peggie has maintained that her objection was about NHS policy, not Dr. Upton personally. Still, the dispute expanded into a wider tribunal case examining harassment, belief discrimination, and workplace culture.

Nurse Peggie’s Account

Peggie told the tribunal she felt uncomfortable during the changing room encounters, particularly when she said she was caught in a vulnerable moment.

"I've never been scared of Beth—I was intimidated when he started taking his clothes off and I was in an embarrassing situation," she explained.

Peggie has also said she does not have an issue with transgender people, but believes NHS policies put her in an unfair position.

Dr. Upton’s Complaint and NHS Response

Dr. Upton reported feeling unsafe using the changing room when Peggie was present. On Christmas Day, Dr. Upton emailed:

"I don't feel safe using the changing room when she's there."

Another doctor backed this up, saying Dr. Upton was “extremely distressed” by the situation. NHS Fife then placed Peggie on "special leave" while an investigation proceeded.

Tribunal Evidence and Wider Controversy

The tribunal also heard evidence about whether Peggie compared Dr. Upton to Isla Bryson, a transgender woman convicted of rape. Peggie referenced "a biological man in a women's prison" but denied knowing Bryson’s name.

Lawyer Jane Russell KC challenged Peggie directly, saying, "You suggested that Beth's presence in a female changing room is akin to a rapist being in a women's prison."
Peggie responded, "I knew it was a biological man in a women's prison and there was a disturbance around it."

Peggie also acknowledged that, under workplace policy, she was the only one guilty of harassment—while arguing that her suspension was unfair and amounted to victimisation. The tribunal heard she held strong political views, and that her husband had posted content online mocking transgender women. Peggie dismissed concerns about her views and insisted:

"My daughter's gay. I've got no homophobic views."

Throughout, Peggie has continued to argue her concerns were specifically about NHS decisions that allowed Dr. Upton access to the female changing room.

What This Could Mean Going Forward

As Peggie’s case continues to draw worldwide attention, it highlights how workplace disputes can quickly become flashpoints for broader debates about gender identity, single-sex spaces, and staff protections in healthcare. For NHS leaders and frontline staff alike, the outcome could influence how policies are written, communicated, and enforced—especially in shared staff areas where privacy, dignity, and inclusion can collide. We’ll continue updating this story as the tribunal proceedings develop and any further rulings or responses from NHS Fife and those named in the claim are made public.

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