NHS Fife changing room tribunal: what we know so far
A nurse is taking legal action against a Scottish health board after she was suspended for complaining about sharing a changing room with a transgender colleague.
Sandie Peggie, a nurse at NHS Fife, has claimed she was subjected to unlawful harassment under the Equality Act 2010 by being made to share a changing room with Dr Beth Upton, who is a transgender woman.
At the time of the incidents, Ms Peggie, a nurse, and Dr Upton, a medic, were both employed at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy and worked in the A&E department.
According to Ms Peggie, in late August 2023, she entered a changing room in the A&E department and saw Dr Upton getting dressed, which made her feel embarrassed to get changed and led her to leave the room.
Then, in late October or early November 2023, Ms Peggie was getting changed in the changing room, dressed in her bra and trousers, when Dr Upton came in.
Again, the nurse said she felt embarrassed at changing in front of Dr Upton, so replaced her top and left the room.
Ms Peggie said she then entered the changing room on 24 December 2023 to take care of a personal hygiene need and ended up being left alone with Dr Upton after two members of staff left.
Following the third incident, Dr Upton refused to leave the changing room and later made a complaint of bullying against Ms Peggie.
On 30 December 2023, NHS Fife placed Ms Peggie on special leave and then, on 4 January 2024, the health board suspended her.
At the time the incident took place, it was NHS policy to allow transgender people to use the changing rooms that align with their gender identity.
This is not the first time nurses have threatened legal action in an NHS changing room row.
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Source: Nursing Times, 20 February 2025