Fife nurse Sandie Peggie says she is “overwhelmed” by the support she has received in her tribunal against NHS Fife as she revealed she has donated tens of thousands of pounds to charity.
She is suing the health board and A&E medic Dr Beth Upton – who was born a man but identifies as a woman – for harassment and discrimination.
NHS Fife suspended Ms Peggie and launched a probe after she challenged Dr Upton for using the female changing room at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.
A crowdfunder appeal in support of the nurse was launched in February which raised £38,555 with 2,288 supporters in 42 days.
Ms Peggie’s daughter, Nicole, posted an update on social media on Friday, showing the hundreds of cards the Fife nurse has received from supporters.
‘Overwhelmed’
She also included a written update from her mum in which she said she continues to be “overwhelmed” by the support shown from “near and far”.
The nurse – who has worked in Fife for 30 years – also revealed the charities she is supporting with donations received from the public.
In the update, she said: “My late father Alex Bell passed away on January 11, a few weeks before the hearing, after bravely fighting rheumatoid arthritis for a number of years.
“I’ve therefore donated £19,500 to the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, which is the UK’s main charity for the condition, and £10,000 to the Scottish Society for Rheumatology, which is a smaller, Scotland-based charity.
“Nearly £12,000 was also raised for this charity in a separate fundraiser in tribute to my father.
“I’ve also donated £3,355.10 to the Scottish SPCA, as the welfare of animals – especially dogs – is something I care very much about.
“Finally, I’ve allocated £4,000 for a memorial and park bench in my father’s memory.
“Thank you so much again for your generosity – it means so much to be able to make donations that will really make a difference to causes close to my heart.”
‘Gruelling’ bid against NHS Fife
Ms Peggie previously lifted the lid on her “gruelling” bid to challenge NHS Fife’s policy of “forcing women to share changing facilities with men”.
The health board argued its guidance at the time was that transgender staff should be allowed to use the changing facility of their acquired gender.
But they are being told to admit defeat in the tribunal, which will resume in July, after a landmark ruling by the country’s highest court.
The Supreme Court ruled the terms “woman” and “sex in the Equality Act 2020 refer to a biological woman and biological sex.
Senior judges rejected an earlier Scottish Government position that a transgender woman with a Gender Recognition Certificate became a woman under equalities law.
The justices later said that if “sex” did not only mean biological sex in the Equality Act, providers of single-sex spaces including changing rooms, homeless hostels and medical services would face “practical difficulties”.
Legal commentators say the judgement will have an impact on how public bodies govern access to single-sex spaces.
A Scottish Government spokesman confirmed it is seeking an urgent meeting with the UK Government to discuss the implications of the Supreme Court ruling.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville will give a statement at Holyrood in the coming week, subject to parliamentary approval.
Ministers will also meet with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) this week.
NHS Fife said earlier this week that they will “now take time to carefully consider the judgment and its implications”.
