Nurse Peggie takes RCN union to tribunal over gender-critical dispute support
Sandie Peggie claims the Royal College of Nursing discriminated against her and failed to support her objections to sharing facilities with a transgender colleague.
What to know
- Peggie filed a second employment tribunal case against the RCN union, claiming direct discrimination and inadequate support over her gender-critical beliefs in the original NHS Fife dispute.
- In December 2025, Peggie won a partial victory against NHS Fife on harassment claims but lost on allegations of discrimination and victimisation over an incident where she objected to sharing changing facilities with transgender doctor Dr Beth Upton.
- Peggie testified the RCN representative 'did not take it as seriously' as she did, and says the union failed to advise her of legal claims and refused to provide legal support during NHS Fife's disciplinary process.
- The tribunal hearing continues through late September and early October, with judge Melanie Sangster presiding in Dundee.
“I didn't believe that a man should be permitted to use the women's changing facilities, and that that was more or less the same as being gender critical.”
Sandie Peggie, Nurse, tribunal claimant · Evening Standard ↗ · Sep 22
Sandie Peggie Nurse, claimantRoyal College of Nursing (RCN) Union defendantDr Beth Upton Transgender junior doctorStuart Fraser RCN representativeNHS Fife Health board defendant in original case
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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Peggie describes fear preventing colleague support and cites Isla Bryson comparison
Peggie explained why other NHS Fife staff did not come forward to support her case, citing fear of being treated as she had been. The tribunal also heard details of her comment comparing the presence of the transgender doctor in women's facilities to placing a male offender in a female prison, with reference to convicted rapist Isla Bryson.
“I think possibly it was fear… They had seen the way I had been treated at the hospital by senior staff members.”
— Sandie Peggie -
Sandie Peggie v Royal College of Nursing | 23 September 2026 The Union Has Found Its Voice. It Is Cross-Examining Its Member. Sandie Peggie arrived at today’s hearing with rather more behind her than a grievance about unanswered emails. NHS Fife’s eighteen-month disciplinary
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Peggie testifies union representative did not take her case seriously
In testimony on the first day of the hearing, Peggie told the tribunal she felt RCN representative Stuart Fraser was not treating her complaint with appropriate seriousness after she was placed on special leave.
“I felt like he thought I was being disciplined because I had done something wrong.”
— Sandie Peggie -
3 outlets first by Evening Standard, 19h ago · also Guardian, Sky News · read ↗
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background
Peggie begins second tribunal against Royal College of Nursing union — Peggie brought legal action against the RCN union alleging direct discrimination over her gender-critical beliefs and claiming the union failed to adequately support her during the NHS Fife dispute.
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Peggie wins partial victory in tribunal against NHS Fife — An employment tribunal upheld Peggie's harassment claim against the health board but dismissed allegations of discrimination, indirect discrimination, and victimisation.
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Peggie suspended from NHS Fife after raising complaint — Peggie was placed on special leave by NHS Fife following her objection to sharing facilities with the transgender colleague.
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Peggie objects to sharing changing room with transgender medic Dr Beth Upton — At Kirkcaldy's Victoria Hospital, nurse Sandie Peggie shared a changing room with transgender junior doctor Dr Beth Upton, an incident that sparked her legal dispute.