Finally, trans row board bans men from 'ladies'

NHS Fife has finally acted to ban men from accessing women’s changing rooms and toilets.

- By David Walker Scottish Politics Reporter

The health board is being sued by nurse Sandie Peggie after she was forced to share a changing room with trans Dr Beth Upton, a man who identifies as a female.

Several doctors gave evidence on Dr Upton’s behalf during an employment tribunal, claiming that he was actually a woman.

The health board introduced a policy where staff could selfidentify gender and use whatever facilities they wanted.

Excruciating

The tribunal even heard excruciating evidence from NHS Fife Equalities chief Isla Bumba who suggested she didn’t couldn’t tell if she herself was a woman or not.

Judge Sandy Kemp is expected to rule in Ms Peggie’s case before the end of the year, with the verdict likely to have far-reaching implications. Now, the board has released new guidance which says staff should use single-sex facilities that correspond with their sex at birth.

The review said: “Where toilets and changing facilities are not in individual separate lockable rooms, separate toilets and changing facilities will be provided for men and women alongside additional gender-neutral facilities.