Sandie Peggie: Employment Tribunal, associated legal claims, and related matters - thread #65

[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

Thread 64: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5583133-sandie-peggie-employment-tribunal-associated-legal-claims-and-related-matters-thread-64 27 September 2026 to 29 September 2026

Ah it's ok, I can carry on for now, but if anyone else wants to take over, please do

Please don't feel under pressure to help. Vertigo is very nasty. xx

Thank you. I'll step back.

According to Google AI the answer isn't published but while 90% of membership of the RCN is female the breakdown for all RCN employees is 72% female 28% male.

From TT

DH how long at RCN.
GT Nov 2020. Officer in ER. 2022 permanent senior officer.
DH any involvement with RCN previously?
GT 10 years, steward. An advanced nurse practitioner at NHS Fife
GT whole area and several hospitals.
DH Victoria Hospital, come across SP?
GT came across her in A & E but didn’t know her well.

It's not clear. My recollection/understanding of his evidence while I was observing was that he made a handwritten note and then typed it up later. But that may be wrong. This is the first time he's mentioned typing whilst speaking.

I can do until lunchtime.

Are we just doing TT? Or both TT and NW?

DH by 2024 as Senior officer you had line management
GT yes a range of areas, 2023
DH you became aware of a workplace issue re SP
GT in a case review Feb 2024. We go through and discuss cases
DH How often are these case reviews held?
GT approx monthly
DH one to one or other?
GT varies , it can be one to one or more.
DH this officer for this case is SF?
GT Yes

Brilliant, thanks! Just TT, as otherwise it gets confusing? If others think differently, though, fair enough!

From TT

DH what sort of detail in a case review?
GT getting across progress
DH when took over the case because SF absent?
GT June 2025.

DH please look at end of an email chain your first email to SP 17 June 2025. Explaining SF off work and you taking over - discussed possible date of disciplinary case. Reply from MG. Any previous contact with her?
GT no
DH reply states SP not looking for assistance. How did you go about interacting with SP?
GT I would have responded back to SP directly and asked if needed further support

will she still be so casually swinging in her chair when Naomi is done with her?

From TT

DH you on 26 June send an email to SP and copy MG in. Offering your own thoughts. You were told no workplace representation was needed
GT then I was asked by Colin Pullman re representation RCN director Scotland DH you learned from CP that SP had asked for assistance. You emailed SP asking for a call?
GT always better to support with a phone call person to person
DH what’s the advantage of a call?
GT allow me to hear expectations support needed and rapport

I love that they have no idea what's about to happen to them.

@BettyBooper @SomewhatGlad @fanOfBen @Signalbox I should be able to pick up TT from 2.00 but will need to hand over to someone from about 3.15ish.

I haven't caught up fully but I'm sure Wallace was patient transport in the North West Ambulance Service.

From TT

DH reply from SP saying process had taken a toll and not up to a call at the moment.
GT yes. I later offered via email to Sandie and ask what she was looking for me to do.
DH. About 11 emails you send looking for a call and SP declined each time
GT yes that’s correct
DH you as a senior officer be expected to take a range of cases. How unusual is it not to have any verbal discussion.
GT the first time a member has refused a conversation for over a period of a year. It didn’t allow me to support the way I would usually

From TT

DH over two pages letter 10 June 2025 MG and Mr Norman had you had sight?
GT no
DH she’s asking the union to write to the board asking no men should be allowed in female changing. An email chain MG and RCN solicitors Miss Forrest - did you have any access to that?
DH email 31 July SP to you. Asking you to look at those letters. Did you ask?
GT my understanding was to ask RCN what action I should take to support SP back to work.
DH you were becoming aware of the importance to SP of who would access CR?
GT Yes

Because they will take subs from anyone and since they are splendidly well equipped for working out of providing services it’s a win win for them. 1 - their reputation after this should be burnt toast and 2 - I strongly suspect that Unions are a grift.

All sounds very reasonable but surely the RCN should have been making these demands on behalf of all female staff and not just Sandie?

And I'm back in the room.

Please tell me I haven't missed a WTF moment.

I'll cry if I have.

No you're grand

.

Welcome back Boiled

From TT

DH MG writes should be liaising with board and evidence of her views. You’re asked to copy SP in did you do that?
GT (inaudible)
DH did you have any difficulties with info re NHS Fife getting info?
GT no

DH anything from SP she was dissatisfied?
GT no
DH email to Mr Millar. Your language ‘Sandie requires this …before return’
GT I was taking it very seriously
DH reply from Mr Millar and you forward that on to SP. You ask what she would like done next.
GT that’s right

From TT

DH p 459 a number of requests from SP a matter of urgency write to board. Can the union send a copy of this to me and all members that you are protecting our rights.
GT correct
DH Why didn’t you send a copy to all members?
GT I wouldn’t send a copy to all members re an individual case
DH ever done or asked to do in past?
GT No