Sandie Peggie: Employment Tribunal, associated legal claims, and related matters - thread #64

[nauticant]

TLDR version: Sandie Peggie vs Royal College of Nursing is currently being heard. The hearing started on Wednesday 23 September 2026 and is scheduled to end on Thursday 1 October 2026.

Sandie Peggie, a nurse at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy (VH), brought claims in the employment tribunal against her employer; Fife Health Board (the Board) and another employee, Dr B Upton. Ms Peggie’s claims were of sexual harassment, harassment related to a protected belief, indirect discrimination and victimisation. Dr Upton claimed 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 after a prolonged process judgment was handed down on 8 December 2025. That judgment is being appealed and an appeal hearing is expected to take place in 2027.

Additional legal claims have been raised. Sandie Peggie is taking action against the Royal College of Nursing, against three senior managers who were witnesses in the employment tribunal - Dr Kate Searle, Dr Maggie Currer and Esther Davidson, against Carol Potter, the chief executive of NHS Fife, for victimisation, against NHS Fife for discrimination, and against its director of people and culture David Miller for harassment. In addition, Sandie Peggie is being investigated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council over fitness to practice.

The past proceedings were live tweeted by www.x.com/tribunaltweets. Tribunal Tweets are likely to be providing coverage in current and future proceedings. There's additional information on Tribunal Tweets' substack: www.tribunaltweets.substack.com/.

Links to previous threads #1 to #60 can be found in this thread: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5379717-sandie-peggie-list-of-threads-covering-employment-tribunal-and-afterwards

Thread 61: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5472628-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-following-employment-tribunal-judgment-thread-61 8 January 2026 to 3 August 2026

Thread 62: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5562302-sandie-peggie-vs-nhs-fife-health-board-and-dr-beth-upton-following-employment-tribunal-judgment-thread-62 3 August 2026 to 24 September 2026

Thread 63: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5581909-sandie-peggie-employment-tribunal-associated-legal-claims-and-related-matters-thread-63 24 September 2026 to 27 September 2026

At a minimum this case is showing that RCN is a waste of space as far as its members needing help are concerned. I don’t really understand these heavily unionised workplaces where the employer pays for the union rep’s time. They just seem to be there as an extension of HR to smooth the path for HR disciplinaries. He who pays the piper and all that….

I think the gofundme for Jennifer may still be active, her name and gofundme finds it.

SF based at Edinburgh office.
DH how long?
SF 5 years as an officer, 5 as an administrator.
DH background nurse?
SF No, customer services and customer training.

Lack of better alternatives, while wanting or needing to be represented at least in the areas where the union is prepared to act. I went ununionised for many years, but I felt nervous about it, and I wasn't in an area with as much interaction with the general public as nurses are.

Lack of knowledge of their union’s attitude, and lack of a good alternative union?

DH what patch now at RCN?
SF Fife
DH from 2024 manager?
SF Gillian Tait. 4 officers, one senior, report to her
DH facility called RCN Direct?
SF yes first point of call. Then referred on to appropriate region.

Bundles!

He looks like a lardy version of Frankie Boyle...

Shhh 🤫

DH as an officer how involved with Ms Peggie?
SF an inquiry came in over Xmas. A message for me to call Ms Peggie.
DH bundle p 319
SF this is a case summary from the call SP
DH would you have seen this document?
SF yes on the case management system

I don't really want to make personal comments but he is rather comfortable looking, shall we say.

You forgot the trigger warning! 🙈🤣

A case management system is only as good, and correct, and a truly honest record as the people inputting the information on it. If they choose to lie, or minimise, or just completely ignore stuff how would the nurse know?

I’m not sure that’s enough on its own. I would have thought evidence of the RCN’s institutional stance could be relevant background evidence and might add weight to an inference of discrimination.

But I would still think there needed to be something connecting that background to the treatment SP actually received — something said or done in her case from which the reason for treating her that way could reasonably be inferred

Sorry!

In the medical profession it's referred to as 'well-looking'. 😁

That was my first thought, but couldn't remember the name!

DH you were to call SP , what was the purpose?
SF based on summary SP had been suspended re further investigation.
DH notes underneath are yours?
SF yes
DH notes say 8th January 2024 - when did you call?
SF in my diary called 5th didn’t get her then called her Monday 8th

DH notes made?
SF a few days after
DH was it a typical call re members?
SF yes I get the member to talk through if accurate notes from RCN Direct. It was broadly accurate.
DH how long was the call?
SF I initially thought 30-40 mins. Most calls are around that length.

DH second last line of your notes ‘discussed with member process investigation’ SF it can be lengthy eg 4-6 weeks. Seeking witness statements. Sometimes it can be months. Person has the right to see everything.
DH do you have a memory of talking through?
SF yes from my notes. Not all enquiries become cases.

Did Sandie say the magic words?

😬🤐👿

So is he saying that SP compared Upton to Isla Bryson and that's why she was suspended? I'm confused!

Ignoring that he made the jump to IB not Sandie.