Transgender Doctor Leaves NHS After High-Profile Changing Room Dispute

A transgender doctor at the centre of one of Scotland’s most talked-about NHS disputes has left the health service.

Dr Beth Upton, who is biologically male but identifies as a woman, stepped away from NHS Fife at the end of 2025, bringing a controversial chapter to a close.

The case had sparked intense public debate over single-sex spaces, workplace rights, and how health boards balance inclusion with privacy concerns.

Now, with Dr Upton’s departure confirmed, questions remain about what happens next — and whether the issue is truly settled.

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How the Dispute Began at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy

The conflict first erupted at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, where nurse Sandie Peggie objected to sharing a female-only changing room with Dr Upton.

Ms Peggie, 56, had worked as an A&E nurse for three decades. At the beginning of 2024, tensions escalated after Dr Upton lodged a complaint against her, alleging bullying and harassment.

Shortly afterwards, Ms Peggie was suspended from her post.

What followed was not just an internal HR matter. It became a tribunal case that drew national attention and reignited debates about the definition of sex in workplace law.

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Tribunal Rules NHS Fife Harassed Nurse

After a lengthy legal battle, Employment Judge Sandy Kemp ruled that NHS Fife had harassed Ms Peggie on four separate occasions after she raised concerns about the changing room arrangements.

While her harassment claim was upheld, other allegations — including discrimination, indirect discrimination, and victimisation — were dismissed.

Still, the ruling was widely described by campaigners as a significant moment in the ongoing debate around women’s rights and workplace policies in Scotland.

Ms Peggie later said she felt “beyond relieved and delighted” by the outcome, describing the two-year ordeal as agonising for both her and her family.

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Legal Costs and Public Backlash

The case did not come cheap. NHS Fife admitted it had spent more than £400,000 in legal fees defending itself during the tribunal proceedings.

That figure alone raised eyebrows, especially among critics who argued taxpayer money had been poured into defending policies that were ultimately found to have resulted in harassment.

Adding fuel to the fire were claims that Dr Upton may have left the UK altogether. According to reports, the doctor could be considering a move to Australia, although this has not been officially confirmed.

An NHS Fife spokesperson declined to elaborate, stating only that it was a personal employment matter and no further comment would be made.

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Reactions from Campaigners and Critics

The case drew strong responses from advocacy groups. Susan Smith, director of For Women Scotland, said Dr Upton’s departure would come as a relief to many female patients.

She also pointed to testimony during the tribunal in which Dr Upton reportedly said that if a patient specifically requested a female doctor, the doctor would still be willing to treat them.

Critics argued this demonstrated a clash between gender identity and biological sex in healthcare settings.

Supporters of transgender inclusion, meanwhile, have argued that such disputes highlight the need for clearer guidance from government and health authorities rather than public legal battles.

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A Wider Debate Beyond One Hospital

The dispute unfolded against the backdrop of a much larger legal and political conversation in the UK.

In recent years, Scotland’s Gender Recognition Reform legislation, which aimed to simplify the process for legally changing gender, was blocked by the UK government — marking the first time Westminster had used Section 35 powers to prevent a devolved bill from receiving Royal Assent.

Questions about access to single-sex spaces, hospital wards, and changing facilities have repeatedly surfaced in schools, prisons, and sports bodies. Healthcare settings, however, remain particularly sensitive because of patient privacy and safeguarding obligations.

The NHS has faced growing pressure to clarify how biological sex and gender identity should be balanced in frontline environments.

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What’s next?

With Dr Upton no longer employed by NHS Fife, the immediate dispute may be over — but the broader debate is far from resolved.

Legal experts suggest the tribunal ruling could influence how other NHS boards approach similar complaints. There may also be calls for clearer national guidance on single-sex facilities in hospitals.

Campaigners on both sides are likely to keep pushing for legislative or policy changes, especially as more cases testing the boundaries of equality law continue to emerge across the UK.

Whether this marks a turning point or simply another chapter in an ongoing cultural and legal battle remains to be seen.

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Summary

Dr Beth Upton has left NHS Fife following a high-profile tribunal brought by nurse Sandie Peggie over sharing female-only changing facilities at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.

The tribunal ruled that NHS Fife harassed Ms Peggie after she raised concerns, although other discrimination claims were dismissed.

The health board spent more than £400,000 defending the case.

Dr Upton’s departure closes a contentious chapter, but the wider debate over gender identity and single-sex spaces within the NHS is likely to continue.