Trans doctor involved in Sandie Peggie tribunal leaves NHS Fife
Dr Beth Upton left the health board at the end of December
A transgender doctor involved in a nurse’s high-profile employment tribunal claim against her employer has left the health board concerned.
Dr Beth Upton left NHS Fife at the end of December, it has been confirmed.
That same month, nurse Sandie Peggie won a claim for harassment in her tribunal against the health board, but other allegations of discrimination were dismissed.
The nurse had objected to sharing a changing room with Dr Upton and was placed on special leave following a disagreement between the two at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy on Christmas Eve 2023.
Ms Peggie had lodged a claim against NHS Fife and Dr Upton, citing the Equality Act 2010, including sexual harassment, harassment related to a protected belief, indirect discrimination, and victimisation.
The claims against Dr Upton were rejected by the employment tribunal.
It was reported on Sunday that Dr Upton, 30, has left NHS Fife.
A spokesperson for the health board said: “NHS Fife can confirm that Dr Beth Upton left the organisation at the end of 2025. As this is a personal employment matter, we will be making no further comment.”
Ms Peggie has said she will continue her legal fight and will not be giving up “any time soon” after her partial win in the employment tribunal.
Her supporters have also hit out at the fact the tribunal issued corrections to its original 312-page ruling in Ms Peggie’s case. Author JK Rowling said this was “absolutely scandalous behaviour”.
Tory MSP Tess White, her party’s equalities spokeswoman, said Ms Peggie was “still waiting for a satisfactory conclusion” to the row.
She added: “This disgraced and discredited health board has blown a small fortune trying to silence a nurse who stood up for women’s rights.
“The UK Supreme Court’s verdict last April was crystal-clear — women are entitled to single-sex spaces. But the SNP are still dragging their heels.
“NHS Fife should apologise for squandering taxpayers’ cash to defend the indefensible and John Swinney should finally grow a backbone and order every public body to follow the law.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Following the tribunal judgment, NHS Fife confirmed it was developing an improvement plan.
“In relation to single-sex spaces, health boards must ensure all their facilities comply with relevant legislation, including the Equality Act 2010.”
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