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Call for restricted access to nurse trans row tribunal

BBC Dr Beth Upton is shown wearing a brown fur-lined jacket while leaving the tribunal office in Dundee. BBC
Dr Beth Upton has given evidence at the tribunal brought by Sandy Peggie

A health board is seeking to bar the public from online viewing of future hearings in an employment tribunal about a transgender doctor using a female changing room.

NHS Fife has requested only media be allowed to watch the livestream of the case brought by nurse Sandie Peggie against the health board when it resumes in July.

It said technical issues and "interruptions caused by non-media observers" caused "significant delays" to proceedings at earlier hearings in Dundee.

Ms Peggie was suspended from her work at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on 3 January 2024 after she complained about having to share a changing room with transgender medic Dr Beth Upton.

Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying and harassment.

The tribunal hearings in February could initially be viewed virtually by members of the public, however the judge later restricted virtual access to accredited media.

The health board has asked for this approach to continue online but said members of the public would still be able to attend the hearings in person.

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair smiles at the camera. She is wearing a black jacket and appears to be standing outside a building.
Sandie Peggie brought an employment tribunal against NHS Fife and Dr Beth Upton

NHS Fife said: "During the hearing in February, the employment tribunal restricted virtual viewing access to journalists due to technical issues, as well as interruptions caused by non-media observers.

"The technical issues and interruptions caused significant delays which impacted the tribunal's progress."

The health board has also asked the tribunal to revoke the Tribunal Tweets group's permission to live-tweet proceedings, saying there had been a public complaint about the posts.

Tribunal Tweets told the Daily Telegraph, which first reported the story: "The respondents have applied to have our permission to report using live text-based communications revoked.

"We will contest that application and believe that we have respected the relevant order and hope to be allowed to continue to report."