The NHS trust that allowed a trans doctor to use a female hospital changing room has refused to immediately change its practices after being challenged by the UK’s equalities watchdog.
NHS Fife told the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) that it would not consider whether to alter its trans policies until after the conclusion of a landmark employment tribunal.
Carol Potter, the board’s chief executive, said any recommendations that resulted from the case brought by nurse Sandie Peggie would be considered “in partnership” with the Scottish Government and trade unions.
In a letter to John Kirkpatrick, the EHRC’s chief executive, Ms Potter also insisted that the board’s “policies and practices align with our legal duties and our values”.
But a legal expert warned that the board’s decision to allow trans staff to access women-only areas was a “continual breach of legal obligations to provide single-sex changing facilities”.
Michael Foran, a gender law expert from the University of Glasgow, warned that its refusal to change its policy immediately could expose it “to additional claims of unlawful discrimination from other employees”.
Source: NHS Fife refuses to alter female changing rooms policy amid trans row