SNP health chief Neil Gray gave his full confidence to NHS Fife managers in a row over the nurse was suspended after a conflict with a transgender doctor.
The senior politician gave his support during a visit to Dunfermline’s Queen Margaret Hospital.
It comes one day after the SNP blocked attempts to air the row – involving nurse Sandie Peggie and transgender doctor Beth Upton – in front of the full Scottish Parliament.
Asked for his view today in Fife, Mr Gray said: “The process that’s under way, in terms of the tribunal and any disciplinary process, is live so it wouldn’t be fair to comment on that.”
And asked if he has confidence in the leadership, he responded: “Of course I do.”
Suspended from Victoria Hospital job
Ms Peggie was suspended by NHS Fife from her job at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy after a row with Dr Upton in a women’s changing room.
Ms Peggie told Dr Upton she felt uncomfortable about the two sharing a female locker room on Christmas Eve in 2023.
The tribunal began this month and drew global attention, but has not been discussed in Holyrood where health policy is set and where MSPs spent months debating self-identification and gender legislation.
Separately to the tribunal being held in Dundee, a disciplinary hearing was due to be held on Ms Peggie’s future on Friday.
It’s understood that has been rearranged but no future date has been confirmed by the health board.
John Swinney backs gender law move
First Minster John Swinney was also asked about gender legislation after a speech in Glasgow on Wednesday morning.
Mr Swinney said he does not regret voting for the Gender Recognition Reform Bill in 2022, which he says was “the product of careful consideration”.
Labour U-turn
On Tuesday, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and his deputy, Jackie Baillie, U-turned on their initial support for the legislation.
The law was passed overwhelmingly in Holyrood by 86 votes to 39 in 2022 but was later blocked by the then Conservative UK government, which said it violated equalities laws.
The legislation aimed to simplify the process trans people go through to get a gender recognition certificate in their acquired gender.
It introduced self-identification without a medical diagnosis as part of the reforms.
Opponents of self-ID policies point to high-profile cases such as the NHS Fife employment tribunal.
Asked whether he still backs the legislation, Mr Swinney told reporters in Glasgow: “I do not regret my support from the GRR Bill.”
He refused to comment on the tribunal, which is due to continue in July.
