An employment tribunal involving a nurse who complained about sharing a changing room with a transgender doctor is set to resume on Wednesday after months of adjournment.
Sandie Peggie was suspended from her role at NHS Fife after raising concerns about having to share facilities with transgender medic Dr Beth Upton at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy. The case has attracted significant attention as it tests workplace equality laws around transgender rights.
Tribunal claims and allegations
Peggie took both the health board and Dr Upton to tribunal, lodging complaints of sexual harassment and harassment related to protected beliefs under the Equality Act 2010. Her case centres on three incidents when they shared a changing room, with claims including indirect harassment, victimisation and whistleblowing.
The employment tribunal hearings began in Dundee in February before being adjourned until July. Peggie was suspended from work on 3rd January 2024 after Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying and harassment against her.
Supreme Court ruling impact
The tribunal resumes following a significant UK Supreme Court ruling in April that clarified the terms "woman" and "sex" in the 2010 Equality Act "refer to a biological woman and biological sex". Peggie has publicly welcomed this ruling as supportive of her position.
The hearing is scheduled to restart on Wednesday in Dundee and is expected to continue for 11 days. The case has become a closely watched test of how equality legislation applies to transgender workplace issues.
Legal costs revealed
NHS Fife has spent more than £220,000 defending itself in the employment tribunal, figures revealed last week. The extent of these costs only came to light following an intervention by Scotland's information commissioner.
The substantial legal expenses highlight the significant resources being devoted to this high-profile case, which could set important precedents for similar workplace disputes across the UK.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
