The nurse at the center of a landmark employment tribunal has been fully exonerated of all allegations of gross misconduct, according to a statement issued by her legal representative.
Ms. Sandie Peggie was placed on suspension following her formal complaint concerning the requirement to share a female changing facility with Dr. Beth Upton, a transgender medical practitioner, at the NHS Fife hospital where both individuals were employed.
Ms. Peggie subsequently initiated legal proceedings against the Health Board and Dr. Upton before an Employment Tribunal, which remains ongoing and is scheduled to resume today.
In a significant development mere hours before the resumption of the employment tribunal, Mrs. Sandie Peggie has been formally exonerated of all gross misconduct charges brought against her in a separate internal disciplinary proceeding.
According to her solicitor, Ms. Margaret Gribbon, Mrs. Peggie is “relieved and delighted” that the protracted 18-month process has reached its conclusion, resulting in a full clearance of all allegations.
Ms. Gribbon stated:
“On Tuesday evening, on the eve of the tribunal’s continuation, Mrs. Sandie Peggie received formal notification from NHS Fife that, following a disciplinary hearing, none of the gross misconduct allegations brought against her were upheld.
This followed a disciplinary hearing convened on 25 June, during which four allegations of gross misconduct were considered: two pertaining to alleged failings in patient care, one concerning the alleged ‘misgendering’ of Dr. Beth Upton, and one relating to an interaction with Dr. Upton in the female-only changing facility on 24 December 2023.
Mrs. Peggie is both relieved and gratified that this internal investigation, which spanned 18 months, has concluded with her complete exoneration.”
Mrs. Sandie Peggie was suspended from her duties at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on 3 January 2024, following allegations of bullying and harassment made by Dr. Beth Upton, as disclosed during earlier proceedings of the Employment Tribunal.
The initial tranche of tribunal hearings was conducted in Dundee in February 2025 and was subsequently adjourned, with proceedings scheduled to resume today.
This latest phase of hearings follows the United Kingdom Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in April, which clarified that, for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, the terms “woman” and “sex” are to be understood as referring to biological woman and biological sex. Mrs. Peggie has publicly welcomed the Court’s determination.
The current phase of the tribunal is expected to span 11 days.
It was revealed last week that NHS Fife has incurred in excess of £220,000 in legal and associated expenses in the course of defending its position in the ongoing tribunal proceedings. This disclosure was made following a formal intervention by Scotland’s Information Commissioner.
In a public statement, the Health Board acknowledged the conclusion of related internal proceedings, stating:
“NHS Fife can confirm that an internal conduct hearing has concluded in relation to a staff member in our Emergency Department, following allegations concerning conduct.”#newsafro_
