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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

NHS Fife tries to silence nurse - Sandie Peggie vs NHS Fife Health Board and Dr Beth Upton - thread #30

1000 replies

nauticant · 17/07/2025 15:39

Sandie Peggie, a nurse at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy (VH), has brought claims in the employment tribunal against her employer; Fife Health Board (the Board) and another employee, Dr B Upton. Ms Peggie’s claims are of sexual harassment, harassment related to a protected belief, indirect discrimination and victimisation. Dr Upton claims to be a transwoman, that is observed as male at birth but asserting a female gender identity.

The Employment Tribunal hearing started on Monday 3 February 2025 and was expected to last 2 weeks. However, after 2 weeks it was not complete and it adjourned part-heard. It resumed on 16 July and the last day of evidence will be 28 July and then there will be 2 days of submissions from counsel meaning that the hearing will end on 30 July.

The hearing commenced with Sandie Peggie giving evidence. Dr Beth Upton gave evidence from Thursday 6 February to Wednesday 12 February.

Access to view the hearing remotely was obtainable by sending an email request to [email protected] by 5pm on Wednesday 9 July. Detailed instructions were provided here:

drive.google.com/file/d/16-9POEZ7yHWUr6EmbfquJZO18Gv78bSm/view

The hearing is being live tweeted by x.com/tribunaltweets and there's additional information here: tribunaltweets.substack.com/p/peggie-vs-fife-health-board-and-dr-005. This also has threadreaderapp archives of live-tweeting of the sessions of the hearing for those who can't follow on Twitter, for example: archive.ph/WSSjg.

An alternative to Twitter is to use Nitter: nitter.net/tribunaltweets or nitter.poast.org/tribunaltweets

Thread 1: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5186317-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse
Thread 2: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5267591-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-thread-2
Thread 3: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5268347-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-3
Thread 4: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5268942-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-4
Thread 5: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5269149-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-5
Thread 6: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5269635-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-6
Thread 7: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5270365-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-7
Thread 8: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5271511-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-8
Thread 9: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5271596-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-9
Thread 10: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5271723-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-10
Thread 11: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5272046-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-11
Thread 12: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5272276-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-12
Thread 13: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5272398-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-13
Thread 14: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5272939-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-14
Thread 15: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5273119-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-15
Thread 16: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5273636-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-16
Thread 17: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5273827-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-17
Thread 18: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5274332-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-18
Thread 19: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5274571-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-19
Thread 20: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5275782-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-20
Thread 21: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5276925-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-21
Thread 22: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5280174-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-22
Thread 23: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5285690-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-23
Thread 24: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5301295-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-24
Thread 25: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5318518-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-25
Thread 26: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5335861-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-26
Thread 27: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5372582-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-27
Thread 28: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5374630-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-28
Thread 29: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5374921-nhs-fife-tries-to-silence-nurse-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-thread-29

OP posts:
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23
chilling19 · 18/07/2025 10:58

Boiledbeetle · 18/07/2025 10:54

I am having to avoid posting. I don't trust myself right now. This is infuriating

My cat has run upstairs out of the way of my very loud commentary

RedToothBrush · 18/07/2025 10:58

EP - what I understood to be the tone, the tone was said in an aggressive and an unkind way.
JR - Did DU refer to anything about demeanour
EP - in the CR
JR - yes
EP - she said she felt cornered

Remember: Upton was in the women's changing room. There is no reflection on whether Peggie might have felt 'cornered' by a 6'2" male in the women's changing room. You know, somewhere where she had a reasonable expectation to feel safe and to have her privacy/dignity.

Remember: Just how many times we get scolded on MN for being perfectly civil, but firm in saying no and this is responded to by our scolders as being 'hateful' and 'aggressive'.

Women saying no to men is always framed as aggressive and unkind. Its gendered language. Women are not allowed to be assertive. Women who are assertive are automatically called 'aggressive' even if they are not.

rebmacesrevda · 18/07/2025 10:58

Wonder what Big Sondie's brought in his piece box today. Tins o' gin for tea break?

BettyBooper · 18/07/2025 10:58

So here's where it started.

Instead of being objective and professional, EP stokes it and buys in.

All this 'signposting support', 'needing rest', 'supporting safely to the car'. Jeez bloody drama llama.

No wonder there aren't always clinical leads about if they're spending their time on this crap.

Harassedevictee · 18/07/2025 10:58

Remember this is JRs witness and she is answering the questions asked.

NebulousSupportPostcard · 18/07/2025 10:58

HAHAHAHAHA this is all to protect Kate Searle, not Beth isn't it? I was being so slow on the uptake.

Szygy · 18/07/2025 10:58

I am watching.

Let's just say I’m very much looking forward to hearing NC question this witness.

Butchyrestingface · 18/07/2025 10:58

crabbyoldbat · 18/07/2025 10:53

I'm prepared to believe Upton was shaken, upset and sobbing, to be honest. He'd never been told 'no' before, and not treated as special, so it must have been a shock.

Photographic evidence suggests BU seems to have been a rugby or football player in his previous incarnation.

What are the chances he's signed up to the women's amateur team in Fife? Contact sports seem to act as catnip to people with no sense of appropriate boundaries. 🙄

BezMills · 18/07/2025 10:59

From TT

JR - what did you say
EP - I said I was sorry this upsetting thing had happened to her, she needed to go home to rest, it was end of shift, I may have signposted her to other support, and I said I would be in touch with her supervisor. I wasn't sure about next steps if there was a process to report or complain but the best thing was to go home and rest and be with family. I also said should write a factual account at some point.
JR - DU's email to KS, ccd to you, DU's account of convo with you, can you check the second sentence, had a good if there was a process to report or complain but the best thing was to go home and rest and be with family. I also said should write a factual account at some point.
JR - DU's email to KS, ccd to you, DU's account of convo with you, can you check the second sentence, had a good convo about my right to use the CR, and next steps.
EP - and I signposted to support
JR - what happened next
EP - I said we should leave the hospital together, so that DU could get to car and go home safely,
JR - why the right thing to do, to leave hosp together
EP - DU feeling quite threatened at that point, I thought it was the right thing to do to be by side in case something happened however unlikely, I was the consultant, it was my job to look after people

Fifer : Safety? I heard thon Doctor went tae Madras, so mebbe a wee bit feart fae real Fifers, would have been better gettin sent tae Auchmuty if ye ask me.

JR - how long did convo last
EP - about 30 minutes
JR - now going to look at emails following that day, email from you just after midnight Xmas day, had a catch up - KS and ED, where were you when you sent this
EP - probably in my car
JR - why KS and ED
EP - KS is DU's supervisor, and
ED is charge nurse
JR - you said to DU if ever happened again to let a senior person know why did you say that
EP - everyone wants to feel safe and respected at work, its a dept of 200+people, and line manager not always available, so a senior person would be a consultant
JR - seq of email - DU emails KS, you. KS emails DU copying you in, what did you make of that.
EP - that's what I would expect KS to do
JR - she mentions you, says that EP might join us as well for convo, did that happen
EP - I don't recall being in that meeting with them, all the consultants share an office I was on a clinical shift with them, but I don't recall that meeting although it was possible I was with them.
JR - email from ED, replying to your email, says that what was described was totally unacceptable.
EP - that was her opinion of what I reported, I didn't make any other assessment
JR - KS email to Fife ED consultants, does this include you
EP - yes
JR - did you see this at the time
EP - yes
JR - refresh your memory on what it says, want to ask you 2 question, 1st, what is your opinion on KS action on sending email to consultants
EP - it's a tricky and sensitive thing, she would be sharing it so that we were aware that DU's shifts might be changed and DU might be a little bit upset at work, trying to make the assessment between how much you share and tell the group but as the seniors in this dept we had be aware and DU might be a little bit more sensitive at work. It's difficult to figure out what to say, she wanted to give the facts and let us know the situations.
JR - why would the seniors need to know about Beth's shifts changing and why more sensitive at work

Fifer : JR's had the nod fae the high heidyins. Thon Kate's gettin blaimt, clear as day. She hasnae got that memo. She'll need tae catch up.

CriticalCondition · 18/07/2025 10:59

Szygy · 18/07/2025 10:58

I am watching.

Let's just say I’m very much looking forward to hearing NC question this witness.

Yup.

OhBuggerandArse · 18/07/2025 11:00

And a general point in relation to tone - I suffer at my own workplace from an insistence that ghastly, insincere, condescending politeness is an appropriate way to communicate and any kind of straight talking is the kind of dreadful unpleasantness that must be immediately stamped out. I find it alienating and upsetting to the point of creating a hostile working environment. But there's no account taken of that or of those who feel similarly to me.

ThatCyanCat · 18/07/2025 11:00

RedToothBrush · 18/07/2025 10:58

EP - what I understood to be the tone, the tone was said in an aggressive and an unkind way.
JR - Did DU refer to anything about demeanour
EP - in the CR
JR - yes
EP - she said she felt cornered

Remember: Upton was in the women's changing room. There is no reflection on whether Peggie might have felt 'cornered' by a 6'2" male in the women's changing room. You know, somewhere where she had a reasonable expectation to feel safe and to have her privacy/dignity.

Remember: Just how many times we get scolded on MN for being perfectly civil, but firm in saying no and this is responded to by our scolders as being 'hateful' and 'aggressive'.

Women saying no to men is always framed as aggressive and unkind. Its gendered language. Women are not allowed to be assertive. Women who are assertive are automatically called 'aggressive' even if they are not.

Since the SC ruling, we had an uptick of men who had ignored or been completely unaware of the issue for years and years coming in to tell us that even if we did sort of have a point, we should still be compassionate and polite because otherwise they can't take us seriously.

ThatDaringMintCritic · 18/07/2025 11:00

Did anyone ever check in with Sandie.

ickky · 18/07/2025 11:00

Listening to this testimony, you would think that SP killed DU's granny in front of him in a particularly gruesome way. Not just had words.

So delicate and MUST be protected, everyone needs to know, and rally around him.

DeanElderberry · 18/07/2025 11:01

Since my primary school days I've been familiar with bullies who do performative sobs. And who go white with fury if thwarted. Does living in a bubble, knowing no history, reading nothing from the wider world, leave these people particularly vulnerable to manipulation?

We'd all be better protected if people in management got taught how to spot their local machiavelli types. But then when I think how people get promoted to management . . . .

Boiledbeetle · 18/07/2025 11:01

Szygy · 18/07/2025 10:58

I am watching.

Let's just say I’m very much looking forward to hearing NC question this witness.

That's going to be so entertaining after this codswallop

MarieDeGournay · 18/07/2025 11:01

BettyBooper · 18/07/2025 10:58

So here's where it started.

Instead of being objective and professional, EP stokes it and buys in.

All this 'signposting support', 'needing rest', 'supporting safely to the car'. Jeez bloody drama llama.

No wonder there aren't always clinical leads about if they're spending their time on this crap.

Agree- I just wish somebody would ask EP
DID IT EVER OCCUR TO YOU AT ALL THAT THERE WERE TWO SIDES TO THE STORY??
But I'm sure somebody will laterSmile
I see 'C Elves' is listed - does this mean she will be doing the x-exam rather than NC
And please - yes she's called 'Elves' and I'm sure she's fed up to the back teeth with jokes about her name🙄

Boiledbeetle · 18/07/2025 11:01

ThatDaringMintCritic · 18/07/2025 11:00

Did anyone ever check in with Sandie.

As if!

ickky · 18/07/2025 11:02

ThatDaringMintCritic · 18/07/2025 11:00

Did anyone ever check in with Sandie.

Who?

chilling19 · 18/07/2025 11:02

ThatDaringMintCritic · 18/07/2025 11:00

Did anyone ever check in with Sandie.

Yes this is my question too. Also I am unaware if Sandie went crying to anyone? Or did she just suck it up?

NebulousDog · 18/07/2025 11:02

I have to admit that I might be trying that macaroni pie recipe.

I kinda reminds me of my broke student days when we’d substitute tinned macaroni cheese for a lot of the cheddar in a toastie.

Off to speed read through TT (I suppose they started fairly early so that they can pack up at 3pm?).

NebulousSupportPostcard · 18/07/2025 11:02

I hope that if any of the next cohort of early career doctors at Fife is lurking, they will take note that today's performance is all about protecting the reputation of the inept consultant running the fellowship scheme. Fife is desperate to protect Kate Searle but actually Searle's rash behaviour enabled this whole situation, and did Dr Upton absolutely no good in the long run.

What a shower.

Chariothorses · 18/07/2025 11:03

@RedToothBrush Yep. 'Women saying no to men is always framed as aggressive and unkind. Its gendered language. '

and men who don't respect it are red flags for abuse of women/ girls.

And Sandie was in a room alone with him in the middle of the night, with a heavy period and desperately needing privacy to change her clothes. For a small woman she has guts- I would have been so distressed and upset. And this consultant is policing her tone'?!
God, I'm angry.

Butchyrestingface · 18/07/2025 11:04

NebulousSupportPostcard · 18/07/2025 10:58

HAHAHAHAHA this is all to protect Kate Searle, not Beth isn't it? I was being so slow on the uptake.

Is Kate going to be making an appearance?

Enquiring minds want to know.

NotMyRealAccount · 18/07/2025 11:04

Upton really saw Pitt coming, didn't he? Played her like a fiddle.

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