Latest news with #Sandie
The Irish Sun
21-07-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
JK Rowling slams ‘hapless' NHS bosses who suspended nurse for complaining about trans doc using female changing rooms
AUTHOR JK Rowling has slammed "hapless" NHS bosses for suspending a nurse who challenged a trans doctor in the female changing rooms. was Advertisement 4 JK Rowling has slammed NHS bosses for their 'hapless and unprofessional' behaviour Credit: twitter/jkrowling 4 Sandie was suspended from work in January 2024 Credit: Iain Masterton 4 Dr Upton - a biological male - made an allegation of bullying and harassment Credit: Alamy Sandie was suspended from work at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in January last year after made an allegation of bullying and harassment. But she was The Writing on social media, Rowling fumed: "This is Nicola Sturgeon's legacy. Advertisement Read more News "... a government that publicly backs the hapless, unprofessional, ideologically captured health board that's persecuting a nurse for asserting her legal right to a single-sex changing room." Ms Peggie's solicitor Margaret Gribbon said that the nurse - who has worked at the health board for 30 years - was "relieved and delighted" after being cleared of the allegations. In a statement, Ms Gribbon said: "On Tuesday 14 July, the evening before the resuming of her tribunal, Sandie Peggie received confirmation from Fife Health Board that following a disciplinary hearing, none of the gross misconduct allegations against her were upheld. "This follows a disciplinary hearing on 25 June, which considered four gross misconduct allegations: two relating to patient care failures, one of 'misgendering' Dr Upton, and one relating to her encounter with Dr Upton in the workplace female-only changing room on Christmas Eve 2023. Advertisement Most read in The Sun "Sandie is relieved and delighted that this 18-month-long internal process has concluded and cleared her of all allegations." It comes as an employment tribunal brought by Ms Peggie against the health board is set to resume this week. has been a prominent women's rights campaigner and has often been vocal on what she calls "sex-based rights" for several years. The Advertisement Gender row nurse cleared of gross misconduct She joked she had a "new favourite BBC presenter" after Martine overruled her autocue which referred to "pregnant people" being at risk during the recent hot weather . Rowling has come under fire for comments made in the past towards trans people. In 2020, the esteemed author slammed the growing trend of replacing "biological sex" with "gender identity". Her stance, that declared "sex is real", led to death threats, but also moulded her into a figurehead for the "gender-critical" movement. Advertisement Activists accused her of transphobia in 2020 when replying to an article with the headline: "Opinion: Creating a more equal post Covid-19 world for people who menstruate." She tweeted: "'People who menstruate'. I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. "Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?" Her remarks led to criticism from Potter actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, who ignored the fact her books had made them famous to launch a string of attacks. Advertisement It was Rowling's beloved group For Women Scotland which also launched a long-running legal battle with the Scottish government over how a "woman" was defined in Scottish law. The Scottish government had argued people with gender recognition certificates (GRCs) should be protected from sex-based discrimination, meaning a transwoman would be considered a woman. However, campaign group For Women Scotland claimed this only applied to people born as a female. In April, the Supreme Court's landmark judgement ruled that it was unanimously determined "sex is binary" and that female-only spaces must be protected on the basis of biology. Advertisement 4 Rowling has come under fire for comments made in the past towards trans people Credit: Getty
Leader Live
18-07-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Senior nurse said Sandie Peggie was ‘intolerant' of trans people, tribunal told
Senior charge nurse Louise Curran said Ms Peggie had personally raised concerns about sharing a changing room with a transgender doctor in October 2023, and had also raised it with another line manager at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife. Ms Peggie was suspended after she complained about having to share a changing room with trans medic Dr Beth Upton at the hospital on Christmas Eve 2023. She was placed on special leave after Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying and harassment and cited concerns about 'patient care'. Ms Peggie has lodged a claim against NHS Fife and Dr Upton, citing the Equality Act 2010, including sexual harassment; harassment related to a protected belief; indirect discrimination and victimisation. On Friday, Ms Curran told the employment tribunal she was not aware of Ms Peggie's gender-critical views prior to the dispute, but heard rumours she had views on 'race and religion, politics' and 'intolerance to kinds of food including smells'. Ms Curran said: 'I believe there had been a racist comment to one of our junior doctors but that hadn't been reported officially. 'I knew Sandie had quite strong beliefs about the transgender situation with Beth – that she shouldn't be sharing changing room. Sandie approached me in October to highlight the situation. 'She'd already discussed with (fellow line manager) Esther Davidson but wanted to tell me. She said 'I'm not happy with the situation with Beth changing'. She didn't feel it was right. 'I was aware she had these concerns as Esther had already advised me. I was aware Esther had spoken to our equality lead. I also stated I would check in with Esther to see if she had had further update on this and if there was any change of policy.' The witness said she had heard a rumour that Ms Peggie had walked out of a resuscitation unit while working with Dr Upton, and advised her that 'alternative facilities existed', including two toilet cubicles which she suggested Ms Peggie use, the tribunal heard. During an investigation, she alleged 'Sandie really doesn't have a tolerance for anybody transgender', the tribunal heard. Ms Curran said: 'I had heard there was a conversation Sandie wasn't happy about and walked out of a cubicle, but nothing had been brought to me as a manager. It was just another member of staff saying 'I heard Sandie isn't very happy about Beth working in the department and walked out of a cubicle and wasn't very happy about the changing facilities'.' She said that when she heard about the dispute, she knew who would have been involved, the tribunal heard. Ms Curran said that along with manager Jamie Doyle, she looked at the equality policy, bullying and harassment policy, and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) code and made a decision to put Ms Peggie on special leave for one night, citing a possible breach of the professional code. She said: 'It was a serious enough allegation which required investigation and Jamie said I would need to put Sandie on special leave on that shift and I would need to phone her and tell her. Just for one shift for that night.' She added Dr Upton's line manager Dr Kate Searle told her 'the doctor could be making a complaint to the police about a hate crime', the tribunal heard. Ms Curran recalled she phoned Ms Peggie who replied: 'Are you referring to conversation I had with Beth? I would hardly call it serious but if you don't wish me to come into work tonight that's fine.' During cross-examination by Ms Peggie's lawyer, Naomi Cunningham, Ms Curran said: 'She was put on special leave for investigation into breach of NMC professional conduct.' The witness was asked if Dr Upton had an obligation to raise the allegations regarding the resuscitation unit incident. Ms Cunningham said: 'Can you agree it's an incredibly serious matter, even if no harm came to anybody. Given how serious it was, the suggestion Sandie Peggie was so bigoted she couldn't even bear to work with Dr Upton, if it's true, Dr Upton's failure to raise it with you is a shocking neglect of his duty.' The witness said: 'I can't speak to why it wasn't brought to me or colleagues.' Ms Cunningham said: 'If it was false it was a shockingly damaging lie for a doctor to tell about a nurse, If that had been reported to the NMC, that would have been career ending, wouldn't it?' Ms Curran said: 'I can't comment on what the NMC would do.' During re-examination, Jane Russell KC, representing NHS Fife, asked about her allegation that Ms Peggie had an intolerance of transgender people. Ms Curran said: 'That to me was an intolerance to transgender, it wasn't specifically against Beth, it was just anybody.' Ms Russell said: 'What made you think that she had an intolerance to anybody who was transgender?' The witness said: 'She told me that she didn't agree with a male changing in female changing room.' The tribunal continues.
South Wales Guardian
18-07-2025
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Senior nurse said Sandie Peggie was ‘intolerant' of trans people, tribunal told
Senior charge nurse Louise Curran said Ms Peggie had personally raised concerns about sharing a changing room with a transgender doctor in October 2023, and had also raised it with another line manager at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife. Ms Peggie was suspended after she complained about having to share a changing room with trans medic Dr Beth Upton at the hospital on Christmas Eve 2023. She was placed on special leave after Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying and harassment and cited concerns about 'patient care'. Ms Peggie has lodged a claim against NHS Fife and Dr Upton, citing the Equality Act 2010, including sexual harassment; harassment related to a protected belief; indirect discrimination and victimisation. On Friday, Ms Curran told the employment tribunal she was not aware of Ms Peggie's gender-critical views prior to the dispute, but heard rumours she had views on 'race and religion, politics' and 'intolerance to kinds of food including smells'. Ms Curran said: 'I believe there had been a racist comment to one of our junior doctors but that hadn't been reported officially. 'I knew Sandie had quite strong beliefs about the transgender situation with Beth – that she shouldn't be sharing changing room. Sandie approached me in October to highlight the situation. 'She'd already discussed with (fellow line manager) Esther Davidson but wanted to tell me. She said 'I'm not happy with the situation with Beth changing'. She didn't feel it was right. 'I was aware she had these concerns as Esther had already advised me. I was aware Esther had spoken to our equality lead. I also stated I would check in with Esther to see if she had had further update on this and if there was any change of policy.' The witness said she had heard a rumour that Ms Peggie had walked out of a resuscitation unit while working with Dr Upton, and advised her that 'alternative facilities existed', including two toilet cubicles which she suggested Ms Peggie use, the tribunal heard. During an investigation, she alleged 'Sandie really doesn't have a tolerance for anybody transgender', the tribunal heard. Ms Curran said: 'I had heard there was a conversation Sandie wasn't happy about and walked out of a cubicle, but nothing had been brought to me as a manager. It was just another member of staff saying 'I heard Sandie isn't very happy about Beth working in the department and walked out of a cubicle and wasn't very happy about the changing facilities'.' She said that when she heard about the dispute, she knew who would have been involved, the tribunal heard. Ms Curran said that along with manager Jamie Doyle, she looked at the equality policy, bullying and harassment policy, and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) code and made a decision to put Ms Peggie on special leave for one night, citing a possible breach of the professional code. She said: 'It was a serious enough allegation which required investigation and Jamie said I would need to put Sandie on special leave on that shift and I would need to phone her and tell her. Just for one shift for that night.' She added Dr Upton's line manager Dr Kate Searle told her 'the doctor could be making a complaint to the police about a hate crime', the tribunal heard. Ms Curran recalled she phoned Ms Peggie who replied: 'Are you referring to conversation I had with Beth? I would hardly call it serious but if you don't wish me to come into work tonight that's fine.' During cross-examination by Ms Peggie's lawyer, Naomi Cunningham, Ms Curran said: 'She was put on special leave for investigation into breach of NMC professional conduct.' The witness was asked if Dr Upton had an obligation to raise the allegations regarding the resuscitation unit incident. Ms Cunningham said: 'Can you agree it's an incredibly serious matter, even if no harm came to anybody. Given how serious it was, the suggestion Sandie Peggie was so bigoted she couldn't even bear to work with Dr Upton, if it's true, Dr Upton's failure to raise it with you is a shocking neglect of his duty.' The witness said: 'I can't speak to why it wasn't brought to me or colleagues.' Ms Cunningham said: 'If it was false it was a shockingly damaging lie for a doctor to tell about a nurse, If that had been reported to the NMC, that would have been career ending, wouldn't it?' Ms Curran said: 'I can't comment on what the NMC would do.' During re-examination, Jane Russell KC, representing NHS Fife, asked about her allegation that Ms Peggie had an intolerance of transgender people. Ms Curran said: 'That to me was an intolerance to transgender, it wasn't specifically against Beth, it was just anybody.' Ms Russell said: 'What made you think that she had an intolerance to anybody who was transgender?' The witness said: 'She told me that she didn't agree with a male changing in female changing room.' The tribunal continues.
North Wales Chronicle
18-07-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Senior nurse said Sandie Peggie was ‘intolerant' of trans people, tribunal told
Senior charge nurse Louise Curran said Ms Peggie had personally raised concerns about sharing a changing room with a transgender doctor in October 2023, and had also raised it with another line manager at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife. Ms Peggie was suspended after she complained about having to share a changing room with trans medic Dr Beth Upton at the hospital on Christmas Eve 2023. She was placed on special leave after Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying and harassment and cited concerns about 'patient care'. Ms Peggie has lodged a claim against NHS Fife and Dr Upton, citing the Equality Act 2010, including sexual harassment; harassment related to a protected belief; indirect discrimination and victimisation. On Friday, Ms Curran told the employment tribunal she was not aware of Ms Peggie's gender-critical views prior to the dispute, but heard rumours she had views on 'race and religion, politics' and 'intolerance to kinds of food including smells'. Ms Curran said: 'I believe there had been a racist comment to one of our junior doctors but that hadn't been reported officially. 'I knew Sandie had quite strong beliefs about the transgender situation with Beth – that she shouldn't be sharing changing room. Sandie approached me in October to highlight the situation. 'She'd already discussed with (fellow line manager) Esther Davidson but wanted to tell me. She said 'I'm not happy with the situation with Beth changing'. She didn't feel it was right. 'I was aware she had these concerns as Esther had already advised me. I was aware Esther had spoken to our equality lead. I also stated I would check in with Esther to see if she had had further update on this and if there was any change of policy.' The witness said she had heard a rumour that Ms Peggie had walked out of a resuscitation unit while working with Dr Upton, and advised her that 'alternative facilities existed', including two toilet cubicles which she suggested Ms Peggie use, the tribunal heard. During an investigation, she alleged 'Sandie really doesn't have a tolerance for anybody transgender', the tribunal heard. Ms Curran said: 'I had heard there was a conversation Sandie wasn't happy about and walked out of a cubicle, but nothing had been brought to me as a manager. It was just another member of staff saying 'I heard Sandie isn't very happy about Beth working in the department and walked out of a cubicle and wasn't very happy about the changing facilities'.' She said that when she heard about the dispute, she knew who would have been involved, the tribunal heard. Ms Curran said that along with manager Jamie Doyle, she looked at the equality policy, bullying and harassment policy, and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) code and made a decision to put Ms Peggie on special leave for one night, citing a possible breach of the professional code. She said: 'It was a serious enough allegation which required investigation and Jamie said I would need to put Sandie on special leave on that shift and I would need to phone her and tell her. Just for one shift for that night.' She added Dr Upton's line manager Dr Kate Searle told her 'the doctor could be making a complaint to the police about a hate crime', the tribunal heard. Ms Curran recalled she phoned Ms Peggie who replied: 'Are you referring to conversation I had with Beth? I would hardly call it serious but if you don't wish me to come into work tonight that's fine.' During cross-examination by Ms Peggie's lawyer, Naomi Cunningham, Ms Curran said: 'She was put on special leave for investigation into breach of NMC professional conduct.' The witness was asked if Dr Upton had an obligation to raise the allegations regarding the resuscitation unit incident. Ms Cunningham said: 'Can you agree it's an incredibly serious matter, even if no harm came to anybody. Given how serious it was, the suggestion Sandie Peggie was so bigoted she couldn't even bear to work with Dr Upton, if it's true, Dr Upton's failure to raise it with you is a shocking neglect of his duty.' The witness said: 'I can't speak to why it wasn't brought to me or colleagues.' Ms Cunningham said: 'If it was false it was a shockingly damaging lie for a doctor to tell about a nurse, If that had been reported to the NMC, that would have been career ending, wouldn't it?' Ms Curran said: 'I can't comment on what the NMC would do.' During re-examination, Jane Russell KC, representing NHS Fife, asked about her allegation that Ms Peggie had an intolerance of transgender people. Ms Curran said: 'That to me was an intolerance to transgender, it wasn't specifically against Beth, it was just anybody.' Ms Russell said: 'What made you think that she had an intolerance to anybody who was transgender?' The witness said: 'She told me that she didn't agree with a male changing in female changing room.' The tribunal continues.
Powys County Times
18-07-2025
- Health
- Powys County Times
Senior nurse said Sandie Peggie was ‘intolerant' of trans people, tribunal told
Sandie Peggie's line manager told an internal investigation she believed the nurse 'really doesn't have a tolerance for anybody transgender', a tribunal has heard. Senior charge nurse Louise Curran said Ms Peggie had personally raised concerns about sharing a changing room with a transgender doctor in October 2023, and had also raised it with another line manager at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife. Ms Peggie was suspended after she complained about having to share a changing room with trans medic Dr Beth Upton at the hospital on Christmas Eve 2023. She was placed on special leave after Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying and harassment and cited concerns about 'patient care'. Ms Peggie has lodged a claim against NHS Fife and Dr Upton, citing the Equality Act 2010, including sexual harassment; harassment related to a protected belief; indirect discrimination and victimisation. On Friday, Ms Curran told the employment tribunal she was not aware of Ms Peggie's gender-critical views prior to the dispute, but heard rumours she had views on 'race and religion, politics' and 'intolerance to kinds of food including smells'. Ms Curran said: 'I believe there had been a racist comment to one of our junior doctors but that hadn't been reported officially. 'I knew Sandie had quite strong beliefs about the transgender situation with Beth – that she shouldn't be sharing changing room. Sandie approached me in October to highlight the situation. 'She'd already discussed with (fellow line manager) Esther Davidson but wanted to tell me. She said 'I'm not happy with the situation with Beth changing'. She didn't feel it was right. 'I was aware she had these concerns as Esther had already advised me. I was aware Esther had spoken to our equality lead. I also stated I would check in with Esther to see if she had had further update on this and if there was any change of policy.' The witness said she had heard a rumour that Ms Peggie had walked out of a resuscitation unit while working with Dr Upton, and advised her that 'alternative facilities existed', including two toilet cubicles which she suggested Ms Peggie use, the tribunal heard. During an investigation, she alleged 'Sandie really doesn't have a tolerance for anybody transgender', the tribunal heard. Ms Curran said: 'I had heard there was a conversation Sandie wasn't happy about and walked out of a cubicle, but nothing had been brought to me as a manager. It was just another member of staff saying 'I heard Sandie isn't very happy about Beth working in the department and walked out of a cubicle and wasn't very happy about the changing facilities'.' She said that when she heard about the dispute, she knew who would have been involved, the tribunal heard. Ms Curran said that along with manager Jamie Doyle, she looked at the equality policy, bullying and harassment policy, and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) code and made a decision to put Ms Peggie on special leave for one night, citing a possible breach of the professional code. She said: 'It was a serious enough allegation which required investigation and Jamie said I would need to put Sandie on special leave on that shift and I would need to phone her and tell her. Just for one shift for that night.' She added Dr Upton's line manager Dr Kate Searle told her 'the doctor could be making a complaint to the police about a hate crime', the tribunal heard. Ms Curran recalled she phoned Ms Peggie who replied: 'Are you referring to conversation I had with Beth? I would hardly call it serious but if you don't wish me to come into work tonight that's fine.' During cross-examination by Ms Peggie's lawyer, Naomi Cunningham, Ms Curran said: 'She was put on special leave for investigation into breach of NMC professional conduct.' The witness was asked if Dr Upton had an obligation to raise the allegations regarding the resuscitation unit incident. Ms Cunningham said: 'Can you agree it's an incredibly serious matter, even if no harm came to anybody. Given how serious it was, the suggestion Sandie Peggie was so bigoted she couldn't even bear to work with Dr Upton, if it's true, Dr Upton's failure to raise it with you is a shocking neglect of his duty.' The witness said: 'I can't speak to why it wasn't brought to me or colleagues.' Ms Cunningham said: 'If it was false it was a shockingly damaging lie for a doctor to tell about a nurse, If that had been reported to the NMC, that would have been career ending, wouldn't it?' Ms Curran said: 'I can't comment on what the NMC would do.' During re-examination, Jane Russell KC, representing NHS Fife, asked about her allegation that Ms Peggie had an intolerance of transgender people. Ms Curran said: 'That to me was an intolerance to transgender, it wasn't specifically against Beth, it was just anybody.' Ms Russell said: 'What made you think that she had an intolerance to anybody who was transgender?' The witness said: 'She told me that she didn't agree with a male changing in female changing room.'
