Nurse denies comparing trans doctor to rapist

A caregiver who was suspended aft complaining astir sharing a changing country with a transgender doc has denied comparing the medic to a rapist.

Sandie Peggie claims that having to stock the country with Dr Beth Upton - who is simply a trans pistillate - amounted to unlawful harassment nether the Equality Act.

The employment tribunal, which began connected Monday, has been told that words were exchanged betwixt Ms Peggie and Dr Upton successful December 2023.

It heard that Ms Peggie had compared the doctor's determination to usage the women's changing country successful Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, to contention astir "men being successful women's prison".

It was determined that she was referring to the lawsuit of Isla Bryson, a transgender rapist who attacked 2 women portion known arsenic Adam Graham and was initially remanded to a women's prison.

During her 2nd time of evidence, Ms Peggie claimed she was antecedently unaware that the Bryson lawsuit progressive a rapist, and said: "I ne'er compared Beth to being a rapist."

Jane Russell KC, the lawyer representing Dr Upton and NHS Fife, suggested that the remark fed into a communicative that trans women were predators.

Ms Peggie replied: "I was describing however women indispensable consciousness with a antheral successful a pistillate situation and however they mightiness consciousness awkward having a antheral successful the situation with them."

Ms Peggie, who has been a caregiver astatine NHS Fife for much than 30 years, antecedently told the tribunal she felt "embarrassed and intimidated" erstwhile Dr Upton started getting changed successful the country successful December 2023.

"I told Beth I felt it was unacceptable that helium was successful the pistillate changing area," she said.

Dr Upton has denied getting undressed during the exchange.

The tribunal heard a written relationship from different doc who said Dr Upton appeared "extremely distressed" afterwards.

Ms Peggie's assertion is disputed by NHS Fife, which has described the lawsuit arsenic unnecessary and vexatious.

NHS guidance states that trans men and women are allowed to usage the changing rooms that align with their sex identity.

Last month, it was decided that the tribunal would beryllium heard successful nationalist and that Ms Peggie and her ineligible squad were allowed to notation to Dr Upton arsenic a man.

Dr Upton's ineligible team, who said the medic was profoundly wounded by being misgendered, volition beryllium capable to notation to their lawsuit arsenic female.

During her evidence, Ms Peggie confirmed she had called Dr Upton a antheral and said she believed the medic was a biologic male.

She acknowledged that this would beryllium considered harassment nether NHS Fife's diverseness and equality guidance.

The caregiver besides confirmed that she had "strong opinions" and an admiration for US President Donald Trump.

The tribunal besides heard texts betwixt Ms Peggie and a workfellow wherever she expressed vexation astir Dr Upton utilizing the women's changing rooms.

One substance from the caregiver said she was "shaking similar a leaf" aft encountering Dr Upton successful the changing room, adding: "Everyone sticks up for the minority."

Dr Upton complained to the wellness committee astir Ms Peggie's behaviour aft the speech successful December 2023, claiming that it was bullying.

Ms Peggie was enactment connected permission and past suspended successful January 2024 pending an investigation. The wellness committee encouraged her to instrumentality to enactment astatine a antithetic infirmary successful March past year.

The tribunal, which is expected to past 10 days, continues.