Nurse sues RCN union over gender critical beliefs support
Sandie Peggie alleges her union failed to adequately support her previous dispute with NHS Fife.
Nurse Sandie Peggie has initiated legal proceedings against her union, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), alleging direct discrimination related to her gender critical and sex realist beliefs. Ms Peggie claims the RCN did not provide her with adequate support during a prior dispute with NHS Fife.
Allegations of inadequate union support
Ms Peggie told an employment tribunal that a union representative appeared not to be taking her concerns as seriously as she was when she was placed on special leave. This followed her objection to sharing a changing room with a transgender medic at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy. She stated that the RCN representative, Stuart Fraser, seemed to believe she was being disciplined for having done something wrong.
The nurse also suggested that other staff at NHS Fife did not come forward to support her earlier case against the health board due to possible 'fear'. She indicated that colleagues had witnessed how she was treated by senior staff members at the hospital.
Previous tribunal victory and union's defence
This is Ms Peggie's second employment tribunal. In December last year, she secured a partial victory against NHS Fife. An employment tribunal upheld her claims of harassment against the health board but dismissed allegations of discrimination, indirect discrimination, and victimisation. That high-profile case attracted support from gender-critical groups and author J.K. Rowling.
Ms Peggie's legal team is expected to argue that the RCN failed to advise her in January 2024 that she had a legal claim against her employer after her suspension. Further claims include that the union refused her request for legal support in January 2025 during NHS Fife's handling of her disciplinary investigation and failed to adequately advocate for her when she sought guarantees from NHS Fife that changing facilities should be single-sex.
The Royal College of Nursing denies all the claims made against it by Ms Peggie. The tribunal, presided over by employment judge Melanie Sangster in Dundee, is ongoing.
Questions this report answers
01What is Sandie Peggie suing the Royal College of Nursing for?
Sandie Peggie is suing the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) union for direct discrimination. She claims the union discriminated against her due to her gender critical and sex realist beliefs and failed to adequately support her in a previous dispute with NHS Fife.
02What was Sandie Peggie's previous dispute with NHS Fife?
Sandie Peggie previously took NHS Fife to an employment tribunal after objecting to sharing a changing room with a transgender medic. She was awarded a partial victory, with the tribunal upholding claims of harassment against her employer but dismissing other discrimination allegations.
03What support does Sandie Peggie allege the RCN failed to provide?
Ms Peggie claims the RCN failed to advise her of a potential legal claim against NHS Fife after her suspension. She also alleges the union refused her request for legal support during her disciplinary investigation and did not adequately advocate for her regarding single-sex changing facilities.
04What is the RCN's response to the allegations?
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) denies all the claims made against it by Sandie Peggie. The union is defending itself against allegations of discrimination and failure to provide adequate support during Ms Peggie's previous dispute with NHS Fife.
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