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NHS Fife faces the threat of fresh legal action by Sandie Peggie – and this time three employees are named in the law suit. With the original employment tribunal seemingly coming to an end on Tuesday, with judge deliberations set for October, the nurse is now targeting others within the health board who have allegedly treated her unfairly.
She is already pursuing a claim of discrimination and harassment against NHS Fife and trans Dr Beth Upton with this being heard this year. She was suspended from work at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy after confronting the biological male medic for using the female changing rooms.
The employment tribunal has captured the attention of the UK due to the struggles between women’s rights campaigners and trans activists. NHS Fife was one of many public bodies in Scotland to adopt the gender self-identification policy, allowing people to use whatever facilities they feel most comfortable with, even if they are the opposite sex.
Ms Peggie’s solicitor Margaret Gribbon has confirmed that new legal action was raised on August 6 against Fife Health Board, Dr Kate Searle, Dr Maggie Currer and Esther Davidson. All three gave positive evidence on behalf of Dr Upton and condemned the nurse for her behaviour, before even getting her side of the story and before an official probe was launched.
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The latest claim is being brought under the Equality Act 2010 and alleges harassment and victimisation linked to Ms Peggie’s gender-critical beliefs. It is separate from her ongoing case.
Ms Gribbon also revealed that further claims of harassment and victimisation would also be lodged in the coming months against NHS Fife and “possible other” employees. These relate to these senior managers’ opposition to the decision by another manager in March 2024 to lift Sandie’s suspension as set out by the evidence of the suspension review manager during the tribunal hearing in July and to subject the nurse to a disciplinary process and to the issuing of a controversial media statement on July 18, 2025.
The health board sent out an extraordinary press comment halfway through the tribunal where it accused Sex Matters of turning public opinion against them. It was forced to amend it repeatedly due to aspects of his not being legally safe.
Ms Peggie’s legal team has demanded that NHS Fife disclose the names of the staff who authorised the statement, after freedom of information requests about this were refused. They cite the board’s corporate communications policy, which requires press releases to be signed off by the communications team and senior executives.
Ms Gribbon said: “I can confirm that on August 6, 2025, my client, Sandie Peggie, raised further legal proceedings in the employment tribunal against Fife Health Board (FHB), Dr Kate Searle, Dr Maggie Currer and Esther Davidson. All four respondents’ legal defences to the claim are expected to be received within the next fortnight. The claim arises from these senior managers’ opposition to the decision by another FHB manager in March 2024 to lift Sandie’s suspension.
“Sandie only became aware of this matter when the suspension review manager gave evidence at her tribunal hearing in July. The claim is one of alleged harassment and victimisation under the Equality Act 2010 relating to Sandie’s gender-critical beliefs and is a separate legal case from her ongoing claim against FHB and Dr Beth Upton.
“Further claims of harassment and victimisation will also be lodged in the coming months on Sandie’s behalf against FHB and possibly other FHB employees. These additional claims relate to the decision to subject Sandie to a disciplinary hearing process and the issuing of a FHB media statement on July 18, 2025.
“FHB’s solicitors have been asked to confirm the names of the FHB employees who authorised the media statement in order that consideration can be given to raising legal proceedings against them as individuals. Since July 19, 2025, FHB has failed to respond to repeated written requests to disclose the names.”
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