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A drop in the ocean in the great schemes of things....but replicated by how many more

(146 Posts)
TerriBull Thu 17-Jul-25 10:02:56

Two cases currently in the headlines, Sandy Peggie's court case, costing something in the region of £220,000 and the cost of appeals against the deportation to Pakistan of a couple of members of the Rochdale grooming gang leaders, nearly £300,000.

Am I being unreasonable to think that the Sandie Peggie case should have been sorted internally without a court case at a great cost, it was a matter of common sense, she as a woman should not be expected to share a changing with a person who is an intact male, or be vilified for that. Secondly why do we have to waste public money fighting for the rights of foreign nationals not to be deported for committing heinous crimes, oh yeah I know due process under the law, the law is an ass then if it uses public money in this respect.

I thought as a country we are skint.

Ilovecheese Wed 06-May-26 12:03:57

LemonJam

All UK registered nurses, whatever gender critical, racist or any other personal beliefs they hold, still must adhere to the NMC code of conduct and the laws of their country, IF they chose to practice as a nurse. The same professional expectation is repeated in respective Codes of Conduct across the UK health care professions. Everyone is protected by Human rights laws in addition.

That means a Registered Nurse must accept that there are patients and colleagues who are transgender (of which a nurse may be critical) yet still that nurse must treat those patients and colleagues who are transgender with dignity, kindness and respect and not intentionally misgender them.

That is not lying, gas lighting or coercive control, it is a requirement of the Nursing and Midwifery Council for Registered Nurses to remain on the Register. Nurses can only legally practice as a nurse in the UK if they are on the Register. Employers check the nurse's registration before appointment and every three years, thereafter as the nurse must revalidate her practice every three years to remain in post.

Who has suggested that they don't adhere to the NMC code?
When has there ever been a report of a nurse not doing so?

What has that got to do with a biological man in the women's changing room?

Allira Wed 06-May-26 11:49:39

eazybee Tue 05-May-26 18:30:24

Thank you for reminding us of the facts of this case.

LemonJam Wed 06-May-26 11:30:05

All UK registered nurses, whatever gender critical, racist or any other personal beliefs they hold, still must adhere to the NMC code of conduct and the laws of their country, IF they chose to practice as a nurse. The same professional expectation is repeated in respective Codes of Conduct across the UK health care professions. Everyone is protected by Human rights laws in addition.

That means a Registered Nurse must accept that there are patients and colleagues who are transgender (of which a nurse may be critical) yet still that nurse must treat those patients and colleagues who are transgender with dignity, kindness and respect and not intentionally misgender them.

That is not lying, gas lighting or coercive control, it is a requirement of the Nursing and Midwifery Council for Registered Nurses to remain on the Register. Nurses can only legally practice as a nurse in the UK if they are on the Register. Employers check the nurse's registration before appointment and every three years, thereafter as the nurse must revalidate her practice every three years to remain in post.

Galaxy Tue 05-May-26 20:26:28

Again it is not discrimination for me to say men can not be women, and that all men who identify as women are in fact men. In fact gender critical belief is a protected belief. I think that is something that we need to explore even further legally following the forstater ruling.

Galaxy Tue 05-May-26 20:16:23

It is deeply disrespectful to ask people to lie or to adhere to an ideology which many find sexist and homophobic. I see asking people to do this as a form of coercive control. Many women recognise this as a firm of gaslighting. We know it isn't true. Upton is a man, I don't believe in the sexist regressive concept that us represented by gender. Upton is a man.

LemonJam Tue 05-May-26 19:29:33

Elrel

Just a passing thought, would it not be correct to refer in court to someone as ‘Dr’ if they are medically qualified or have a PhD?

This would have been much more respectful, for the nurse's representative to call the Dr by the name and pronoun they requested. Failing that Dr would have been better than MR which is intentionally misgendering Dr Upton.

If the nurse herself did that in the workplace, ie deliberately misgendering a patient, and insisting on calling a transgender person who identifies as a female "Mr" particularly when that person has requested them not to, she would clearly be in breach of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Conduct regarding kindness, respect and dignity. Nurses must uphold transgender patients rights and challenge discriminatory attitudes. Doing the same to colleagues, would be is skating very close to the wind and they could make a formal complaint. The nurse would then face the. risk of disciplinary proceedings and/or professional misconduct proceedings, as it is in breach of the 2010 Human rights Act and another part of the code is that a nurse must always uphold the laws of the country.

Intentionally using incorrect pronouns ( misgendering) or "dead naming" using a former name like Mr) can cause emotional distress and is considered unacceptable.

The Equality Act 2010 protects individuals undergoing gender reassignment from discrimination.

Under her professional code of conduct nurses also must not bring their profession into disrepute. She risks disciplinary and/or professional misconduct proceedings by intentionally trying to misgender and upset a transgender person she knows identifies as a woman. She should know better. . anding professional.

This is aside from the racist verbal and online comments this nurse made. Again in breach of her NMC breach of conduct. The public should expect better of nurses and keep their personal racist views to themselves.

If a Registered Nurse found to have breached The NMC code she would be subject to impairment process then if found to be impaired subject to sanction. The NMC sanctions range from caution, to conditions of practice to sanction to strike off from the register.

This is nothing to do with changing rooms and safe space issues it is to do with respect and dignity. Just because Dr Upton is transgender that is no reason to be treated disrespectfully.

valdali Tue 05-May-26 19:07:53

Iam64

The projected continuing rise in the benefits bill has to be addressed wendym8116. We absolutely need welfare and sickness support for our people. I’m a life long Labour voter. I support a comprehensive review. I don’t believe people dependent on drugs or alcohol should be given mobility cars or more benefit thst their neighbour who lost their job

It's not the drugs / alcohol dependency benefits that worries me, it's the number of people off long-term with anxiety / depression or stress.
I just think a lot of them would prefer being back in the workplace & would be better off that way, but there's so little support to help them back. Managers need to be sympathetic & supportive, & GPs need to encourage people to go back before it becomes an even bigger mental hurdle for them.The review hopefully will look at ways to facilitate return.

eazybee Tue 05-May-26 18:30:24

A medic considered reporting Sandie Peggie to the police for misgendering doctor after she refused to share a changing room with him. She was suspended in January 2024 for 'unlawful harassment' so eventually took her case to court to clear her name because the Trust took no appropriate action. Theodore Upton was the person responsible and it was his actions which brought the Trust into disrepute.
A NHS manager had agreed to his request to use the women's changing room but had no authority to do so, and despite claiming a policy was in place there was no such policy in existence and never had been.
Upton claimed 'sex is a nebulous term which really doesn't mean anything' and claimed it would have been 'othering' for him to claim a private changing space. He stated he was female and that 'some people may be uncomfortable with a transwoman using women's changing facilities but that does not over-ride a trans's person's right that aligns with their gender identity.'
He was wrong.
As for Ms. Peggie's apparently unpleasant remarks they were presented as hearsay, reported from a lunch she shared with colleagues but not reported by the people there ,and were of no relevance to the case, just an attempt to blacken her name.
The Trust was at fault for failing to have a policy in place about transgender people, not discussing the issue with staff, wrong to allow Theodore Upton access to women's spaces and wrong to attempt to discipline Ms.Peggie for their failings.
Their treatment of Sandie Peggie, a nurse with an unblemished record, was reprehensible, and she was a brave woman to fight and win her case.
But Bridget Phillipson has still failed to give clear guidance.

Allira Tue 05-May-26 18:15:17

Can I just point out that it was Sandie Peggie who forced the court case? She forced it to be public and have the doctor named and publicly outed.

Good.
Well done her.

Galaxy Tue 05-May-26 18:03:58

It isn't any form of discrimination for women to say no to men. And those kind of manipulative tactics just don't wash with women anymore.

Allira Tue 05-May-26 18:00:34

LemonJam

Glasweegran

Can I just point out that it was Sandie Peggie who forced the court case? She forced it to be public and have the doctor named and publicly outed.

The local NHS has received death threats as a result of all this, which could have been handled internally, and much of the cost avoided, but nurse Peggie refused that.

The NHS followed the guidance at the time, Dr Upton asked advice when transitioning, and was told to use the female changing rooms, she did nothing wrong (apart from exist). Sandie Peggie then started bullying in her for being there, called her names, misgendering her on purpose and comparing her to a rapist.

It's also worth nothing that it's been stated that no other staff members or patients had a problem with Dr Upton, or accepting her as female, while senior staff members have talked about Sandie Peggie being involved in racist incidents, and pushing her views on supporting Trump and his ideologies.... albeit that no-one went the length of official complaints, but they weren't happy about her coming back to work following suspension after her previous behavior.

See article for this:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c307ez5l4gqo

It's also in there that Nurse Peggie refused arrangements for different shifts to look after her dog. Previous articles have also stated that there were other places she could change if she was uncomfortable.

When you scratch the surface of the details on this case, it starts to look very different from the narrative of "Dr intimidates nurse"

Still though, there are those accusing the dr of sexual harrassment for which there is zero evidence, and no-one coming forward to back it up at all, unlike the idea that nurse Peggie has acutally been pushing a Trump style agenda of attacking a person simply for being transgender and going about their working day, which is bourne out by the statements of others.

One just makes a better headline than the other.

Thanks for the link Glaweegran, I wasn't aware of the horrible racist comments Sandie Peggie, commented and posted.

Blackening the name of Sandie Pegge who is fighting for the rights of women does no-one any favours.

Dirty tricks - no more than women have come to expect now, sadly.

Allira Tue 05-May-26 17:57:22

I understand that transgender people have human rights and should be treated with respect and treated equally, without discrimination.

And most of us understand that everyone has human rights and should be treated with respect, including women who do not wish to share their safe spaces with men who claim to be women.

Allira Tue 05-May-26 17:54:25

Elrel

Just a passing thought, would it not be correct to refer in court to someone as ‘Dr’ if they are medically qualified or have a PhD?

Not necessarily.
A surgeon is known as Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms .

Elrel Tue 05-May-26 17:33:47

Just a passing thought, would it not be correct to refer in court to someone as ‘Dr’ if they are medically qualified or have a PhD?

Galaxy Tue 05-May-26 17:04:57

Also to clarify, the law was not changed, the law was always the same. Organisations, often advised by Stonewall misinterpreted the Equality Act in terms of the definition of sex.

Ilovecheese Tue 05-May-26 17:00:24

The characters of the people involved are not relevant though. What is relevant is their biological sex.

Galaxy Tue 05-May-26 16:37:29

They are men. It is actually a form of sex discrimination against women when men are in female spaces. The court cases will continue if organisations continue to break the law.
I agree that those who identify as trans should be treated equally, those who have pretended transwomen are women have done them a terrible disservice.

LemonJam Tue 05-May-26 16:13:45

I understand that women should have access to safe, female only changing spaces. and employers need to facilitate this.

Before the recent Scottish ruling, most employers were following laws and guidance in place and as a result of the ruling, are now in transition to accommodate certain aspects of that ruling, which has not been entirely clarified. A tension emerged that is being worked through. It is likely to lead to extra costs making more changing room spaces available etc.

I understand that transgender people have human rights and should be treated with respect and treated equally, without discrimination. .

I understand the tensions that arose in this case for all parties.

I understand the tensions and difficulties for employers - they balance a legal duty for health and safety at work for ALL its employees, including transgender employees, must comply with laws in place at the time, but treat reach equally and without discrimination. The law did recently change in respect of a ruling regarding transgender people- but the ruling in itself is not over ridden by human rights laws so there remains a tension whilst transition is worked through.

It's a shame this could not be settled within the trust- but I have seen the timeline how it was the nurse specifically that wished this to be taken for a tribunal ruling.

I was saddened to read the nurse's representatives referring to the transgender Dr as "Mr" repeatedly during the tribunal hearing. That did seem to be somewhat petty, disrespectful and intentionally seeking to cause some level of upset for this transgender Dr.

I was saddened to read the racist nature of the comments made and posted by the nurse.

The issue fundamentally is about accepting that there are transgender people in society, how we can accept that, how all employees of all genders can work alongside each other safely, with respect, are treated equally and there is no discrimination.

Maremia Tue 05-May-26 14:51:55

Gosh, I didn't know all of that.
Thanks Glasweegran.

LemonJam Tue 05-May-26 11:39:52

Glasweegran

Can I just point out that it was Sandie Peggie who forced the court case? She forced it to be public and have the doctor named and publicly outed.

The local NHS has received death threats as a result of all this, which could have been handled internally, and much of the cost avoided, but nurse Peggie refused that.

The NHS followed the guidance at the time, Dr Upton asked advice when transitioning, and was told to use the female changing rooms, she did nothing wrong (apart from exist). Sandie Peggie then started bullying in her for being there, called her names, misgendering her on purpose and comparing her to a rapist.

It's also worth nothing that it's been stated that no other staff members or patients had a problem with Dr Upton, or accepting her as female, while senior staff members have talked about Sandie Peggie being involved in racist incidents, and pushing her views on supporting Trump and his ideologies.... albeit that no-one went the length of official complaints, but they weren't happy about her coming back to work following suspension after her previous behavior.

See article for this:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c307ez5l4gqo

It's also in there that Nurse Peggie refused arrangements for different shifts to look after her dog. Previous articles have also stated that there were other places she could change if she was uncomfortable.

When you scratch the surface of the details on this case, it starts to look very different from the narrative of "Dr intimidates nurse"

Still though, there are those accusing the dr of sexual harrassment for which there is zero evidence, and no-one coming forward to back it up at all, unlike the idea that nurse Peggie has acutally been pushing a Trump style agenda of attacking a person simply for being transgender and going about their working day, which is bourne out by the statements of others.

One just makes a better headline than the other.

Thanks for the link Glaweegran, I wasn't aware of the horrible racist comments Sandie Peggie, commented and posted.

LemonJam Tue 05-May-26 11:37:37

Glasweegran

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx20eglgmgjo

Thanks for this back ground information Glasweegram.

sixandahalf Tue 05-May-26 08:05:02

keepingquiet

There is no shortage of money in this country- that's a myth told to keep poor people poor.

We are in fact a very wealthy country it is just that some who have lots of it don't want to share it out...

They certainly don't. They prefer to pit people against each other, it's easier.

eazybee Tue 05-May-26 07:58:19

More expensive obfuscation. Why?
14 April 2026 BBC website
The government intends to publish new guidance on single-sex spaces next month after elections on the 7 May,2026 equalities minister Bridget Phillipson has said.
Updated draft guidance was submitted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on Monday, but election rules mean the government is "unable to make further announcements on the matter at this time", Phillipson told MPs in a written statement.

The watchdog's Code of Practice, which provides guidance to organisations on applying equalities law, was being redrafted after the Supreme Court ruled the definition of a woman under the Equality Act should be based on biological sex.
A first draft was submitted for approval in September but it has since undergone changes.
EHRC chair Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson said the latest amendments were made after receiving a "narrow set of comments" from the government, and having considered consultation responses and legal advice.
She said the amendments "aim to strengthen duty bearers' understanding of the law and how it applies across a range of the scenarios they encounter day-to-day".
Stephenson said it would ensure "all service users are treated with dignity and respect, in line with the Equality Act".

Allsorts Tue 05-May-26 06:14:38

Everything has to be investigated and nothing comes out of it, all thats needed in most cases us common sense and there's enough laws to cover most things.
Why even listen to appeals from grooming gangs, deport the lot of them and their families who cover up for them, what about their victims they need the money not those vile creatures. It’s about time we focused on the victims.
The Sandra Peggie case, of course that an internal matter, just what are the managers paid for? That intact make knew he was pushing boundaries and should be sacked. I am fed up with my tax being paid out to such cases,

Doodledog Tue 05-May-26 04:40:20

Nevertheless, it seems obvious to me that men should not be in women’s spaces.