A nurse who objected to sharing a female changing room with a transgender doctor will have her appeal against the findings of an employment tribunal heard next year, according to her legal team. Sandie Peggie was suspended from her job at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy's A&E department after she complained about Dr Beth Upton - a biological male who identifies as a woman - using the female changing area.
Peggie won a claim for harassment against NHS Fife in December last year, but her other allegations of discrimination and victimisation were dismissed. A statement released on behalf of Peggie's lawyers said a judge had concluded there were reasonable grounds for bringing 13 points of appeal. It is expected a full appeal hearing will be heard in the first half of next year.
What does the appeal cover?
Peggie's legal team said the appeal covers the original tribunal ruling, a first correction that rewrote a key passage on how protected characteristics are balanced, and a second round of amendments which altered the wording of several substantive paragraphs.
The original 312-page judgement found in Peggie's favour on four counts but dismissed her other claims against both the health board and Upton. It said some of her comments towards the doctor
amounted to an incident of harassmentand breached the health board's bullying and harassment policy.
What did the tribunal decide?
The original 312-page judgement found in Peggie's favour on four counts but dismissed her other claims against both the health board and Upton. It said some of her comments towards the doctor
amounted to an incident of harassmentand breached the health board's bullying and harassment policy.
What happens next?
A full appeal hearing is expected in the first half of next year. The statement released on behalf of Peggie's lawyers said a judge had concluded there were reasonable grounds for bringing 13 points of appeal, and the case will now move forward on that basis.
Key Facts
- Sandie Peggie was suspended from Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy's A&E department after raising concerns about sharing a female changing room with Dr Beth Upton.
- Peggie won a harassment claim against NHS Fife in December last year, but her discrimination and victimisation claims were dismissed.
- A judge found there were reasonable grounds for 13 points of appeal.
- The full appeal hearing is expected in the first half of next year.
- The original tribunal judgement ran to 312 pages and found in Peggie's favour on four counts.
