Trans doc's boss denies she helped to make up allegation

DR BETH Upton’s boss broke down in tears twice during tense questioning at Sandie Peggie’s employment tribunal as she denied helping to make up a “serious” allegation about the veteran nurse.

- By David Walker

Dr Kate Searle also claimed she wouldn’t be able to tell Dr Upton, inset, was a trans woman.

She faced a grilling from Ms Peggie’s counsel Naomi Cunningham about disputed claims that the nurse put patients at risk by walking out of a resuscitation cubicle to avoid working with Dr Upton, and refused to communicate with him about another case.

Dr Searle backed up both these accusations, but it was put to her that she was “determinedly trying to round up witnesses to support Dr Upton’s version of events”.

Ms Cunningham highlighted that a healthcare assistant was the only witness to the second incident and had refused to get involved.

The doctor burst into tears and said “she does not want to” discuss a colleague who doesn’t want to be involved in the case or “in the press”.

The hearing was paused for five minutes for her to take a break.