The dispute between Dr. Upton and Ms. Peggie arose from an incident in the female changing room on Christmas Eve 2023. Following the confrontation, Dr. Upton submitted a formal complaint against Ms. Peggie, describing the encounter as a “hate incident” and alleging bullying and a hostile work environment. According to Dr. Upton, the exchange left her feeling “distressed” and “afraid”.
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As part of the investigation into the complaint, Dr. Upton made several serious allegations against Ms. Peggie, including claims that raised “clear fitness to practice questions”.
One of the most significant accusations was that Ms. Peggie had “walked out of a resuscitation unit when Dr. Upton entered, leaving a patient unseen”. Dr. Upton’s line manager, Dr. Kate Searle, corroborated this claim, referencing notes about an incident where a colleague allegedly left a resuscitation scenario upon Dr. Upton’s arrival.
Another allegation involved the “missing patient incident” on December 18, 2023, where a patient was triaged but left the hospital without being seen. Dr. Upton claimed that Ms. Peggie had “not acknowledged [her] presence” during the event, implying professional negligence.
However, despite the severity of these patient safety concerns, Dr. Upton did not report them immediately, raising questions about the timing and motivation behind the claims.
The tribunal surrounding Dr. Beth Upton highlights the complexities of navigating gender identity issues in professional environments (Image: Getty) Ms. Peggie has strongly denied all allegations, describing them as “fabricated” and “not true”. She emphasized that in her 30 years of nursing experience, she had never faced any concerns regarding patient care.
During cross-examination, she suggested that Dr. Upton was “making them up” in retaliation for the changing room dispute. Internal accusations of gross misconduct against Ms. Peggie were dropped on the morning of the tribunal resuming.
Dr. Beth Upton is a central figure in a legal battle that extends beyond an individual workplace disagreement, touching on gender identity rights, professional conduct, and freedom of belief. As the case progresses, it may influence policies on single-sex spaces, discrimination laws, and disciplinary procedures in workplaces across the UK.