A nurse was left ‘shaken’ after encountering a trans doctor colleague in a female changing room, her husband told a tribunal.
Sandie Peggie has sued NHS Fife and trans doctor Beth Upton, claiming having to change next to the female-identifying medic amounted to harassment under the Equality Act.
She has taken her claim to an employment tribunal in Dundee.
During 2023 the A&E nurse encountered Dr Upton in the women’s changing room three times, but it was on the last occasion that she challenged the doctor about using the room in Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy.
On Wednesday Darren Peggie, her husband, told the tribunal that the morning after she challenged Dr Upton in the female changing rooms at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, she was left ‘shaken’ and ‘upset’.
On Christmas Eve 2023, the third occasion she had seen Dr Upton in the changing room, she challenged the medic.
Mrs Peggie told the tribunal the medic had been changing, but Dr Upton’s lawyer and NHS Fife have denied this.
Telling of when his wife arrived home on Christmas Day after her shift had finished, Mr Peggie told the tribunal he was told about the ‘discussion’ in the changing room.
Sandie Peggie arrives at Endeavour House in Dundee for the employment tribunal
Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy where Mrs Peggie worked as a nurse
During the third day of evidence, Mr Peggie told the tribunal: ‘She said she was upset, she was embarrassed about what had happened.’
He told Mrs Peggie’s barrister, Naomi Cunningham, when his wife was telling him about what had happened she was ‘shaken’ and ‘upset’ but because it was Christmas morning she was ‘trying to be okay for everybody’.
Mr Peggie said the first time he had heard about Dr Upton was when ‘she bumped into’ the medic in the changing rooms in August 2023.
During his short time giving evidence at the tribunal, NHS Fife lawyer Jane Russell, KC, said while he mentioned his wife had been ‘upset and shaken’ on Christmas morning and ‘also mentioned the word embarrassed’ one word he did not say was ‘she was scared’.
Ms Russell said: ‘It’s right, isn’t it, that she was angry but not scared?’
Mr Peggie told her that he thought she was ‘scared’, he did not witness any of the events in question.
During evidence the NHS Fife lawyer presented a series of Facebook posts he had shared.
Referencing one post, Ms Russell said he had been ‘making fun’ of trans woman.
And she accused him of sharing ‘intolerant attitudes to other minorities as well’.
He rejected the claim that sharing the posts showed he supported ‘these extreme views’ and rejected that he shared the views with his wife.
The tribunal previously heard Mrs Peggie had complained about the situation but was told she could use ‘the basement or a cupboard’ to get changed in.
Shortly after the Christmas Eve incident Dr Upton complained and Mrs Peggie was put on leave and then suspended.
The tribunal, before judge Sandy Kemp, continues.
