Displaying items by tag: gender policy
Scotland: trans changing room row nurse cleared of misconduct
NHS nurse Sandie Peggie has been cleared of gross misconduct after raising concerns about sharing a changing room with a transgender doctor, Dr Beth Upton. Peggie was suspended in January 2024 following an incident at a hospital in Kirkcaldy, where she reported feeling 'embarrassed and intimidated' when Dr Upton began undressing in front of her. The disciplinary case was part of a wider employment tribunal, with Peggie claiming discrimination under the Equality Act. NHS Fife argued it followed national guidance, but admitted it lacked a formal policy on trans facilities at the time. The tribunal also heard arguments over the rights of women with religious beliefs or trauma histories who might not wish to share changing spaces with trans-identifying males. The incident was logged as a 'hate incident’, yet the internal panel found no evidence of misconduct, recommending reflective dialogue instead. Peggie has since urged NHS Fife to respond to the UK supreme court ruling which reasserted the legal definition of 'woman' as biological. This complex case highlights the ongoing tensions between transgender rights and women's privacy in public services.