Nurse Sandie Peggie sues Royal College of Nursing over discrimination claims

Sandie Peggie, a nurse who worked for NHS Fife for over 30 years, has initiated an employment tribunal against the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). Peggie alleges the union failed to adequately support her and engaged in direct discrimination following a dispute regarding gender-critical beliefs.

The dispute originated in December 2023 at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, where Peggie objected to sharing a changing room with a transgender medic, Dr Beth Upton. While a previous tribunal in December 2025 upheld Peggie’s harassment claim against the health board, it dismissed her allegations of discrimination and victimisation against NHS Fife.

In the current proceedings, Peggie testified that she felt unsupported by RCN representative Stuart Fraser, stating he was “non-committal” and did not take her concerns seriously when she was placed on special leave. She claimed she lost faith in the union after a request for legal support was refused. The RCN denies all allegations of discrimination.