London, December 13, 2025
Scottish nurse Sandie Peggie has won a partial victory in an employment tribunal against NHS Fife after raising concerns about sharing female changing facilities with a transgender colleague, with the tribunal upholding her harassment claim in December 2025.
The tribunal ruled in favor of Peggie on grounds of harassment following incidents at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy that led to her suspension in January 2024. However, it dismissed other claims related to discrimination and belief-based allegations against the health board.
Peggie, an A&E nurse, objected to NHS policy permitting shared changing rooms between staff, specifically citing discomfort with transgender doctor Dr. Beth Upton, who was assigned male at birth but identifies as female. The incidents involved three separate occasions where Peggie found herself sharing single-sex changing facilities with Dr. Upton.
Clarifying her position after the ruling, Peggie emphasized her objection was directed at the NHS policy on single-sex spaces, not at Dr. Upton personally. She described feeling vulnerable during moments of changing and highlighted concerns about staff privacy and workplace safety.
This tribunal outcome shines a light on growing tensions within UK healthcare environments concerning gender identity policies, privacy rights, and the allocation of single-sex spaces. The case underscores ongoing challenges NHS employers face in balancing inclusion of transgender staff with the rights and dignity of other frontline workers.
The ruling could have implications for future NHS policy-making on shared facilities, prompting reassessments of how best to accommodate diverse staff needs while maintaining safe and respectful working conditions. It also contributes to broader debates on workplace equality, staff welfare, and how organizations navigate complex social issues in healthcare settings.