Nurse at heart of trans changing room row accuses NHS of 'weaponising' gay daughter

Ms Peggie first raised concerns with her line manager in August 2023 about the presence of Dr Beth Upton in the women's locker room.

She explained her discomfort at being unable to change out of her scrubs following 12-hour night shifts.

Management informed her that diversity, equity and inclusion rules permitted trans employees to use facilities matching their gender identity, suggesting she change in a toilet cubicle instead.

A confrontation on Christmas Eve 2023 led to Dr Upton filing a complaint, resulting in Ms Peggie's suspension within days.

"I never went looking for this. I just didn't want to get undressed in front of a man," Ms Peggie said.

Her daughter Nicole, a 26-year-old lifeguard, spoke to The Telegraph for the first time about her mother's ordeal.

During the tribunal, former friend Lindsey Nicoll gave evidence for NHS Fife claiming Ms Peggie was homophobic and had been "devastated" by her daughter's sexuality.

Nicole dismissed the allegations, saying in her mother's defence: "I just roll my eyes.

"I mean, I'm 26, and I still live with her rent-free. If she were really homophobic, do you think I'd be in the house? Do you think she would be making my girlfriend tea when she comes over?"

Nicole, who describes herself as intensely private, said being dragged into the proceedings came as a surprise.

"It was a bit of a shock," Nicole said.

"I knew that they would try and use that word against her, but I never thought I'd get brought into it".

The employment tribunal delivered a mixed verdict following 22 days of hearings, 21 witnesses and nearly 3,000 pages of documentation.

Ms Peggie won on four counts of harassment by Fife Health Board, though her remaining claims against both the board and Dr Upton were rejected.

The 318-page judgment ruled it was not inherently unlawful for a trans woman to receive permission to use female changing facilities at work.

The judge also found some of Peggie's Christmas Eve comments "amounted to harassment".

Ms Nicoll, who has been friends with Peggie since 2010, holidayed with Ms Peggie's family in Benidorm.

"So for her to turn on me like that was just - this nastiness came out that I never knew was there," Ms Peggie said.

Ms Peggie's father died two days before the tribunal began.

She has since been prescribed antidepressants after suffering from insomnia and high blood pressure.

Her daughter added: "She's been a different person. Mum's very private. She'll deny it if you ask her, but quite often she'll take herself out of the situation, leave the room, have a moment and then come back."

Ms Peggie is now taking legal action against five hospital colleagues and the Royal College of Nursing.