Nurse takes nursing union to employment tribunal over gender beliefs

Sandie Peggie, a nurse involved in a dispute over changing room access, has initiated legal action against her own union, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). Peggie alleges that the RCN did not provide adequate support and that she experienced discrimination from a union representative during her conflict with NHS Fife.

Peggie stated that she felt the RCN representative, Stuart Fraser, was not taking her concerns as seriously as she was, and that he seemed to believe she was being disciplined for wrongdoing. She also mentioned that other NHS Fife staff might have been afraid to testify in support of her case, citing the way she was treated by senior staff.

This new tribunal follows a previous case Peggie brought against NHS Fife. In December 2023, an employment tribunal awarded Peggie a partial victory against the health board, upholding claims of harassment but dismissing allegations of discrimination, indirect discrimination, and victimisation. The earlier case centered on Peggie's objection to sharing a changing room with transgender medic Dr. Beth Upton at Kirkcaldy's Victoria Hospital. The high-profile nature of the case drew support from gender-critical groups and author J.K. Rowling.