Thats a very good article in The Times, really shows how NHS Fife have tied themselves into a knot.
I have to say I disagree that the career stakes are as high for Upton, theres no way that even if its found out it was all fabricated that there will be anything more than a slap on the wrist, if even that. If NHS Fife have their way I'm sure it will all be swept under the rug
"This centres on claims that Peggie misgendered Upton and put patients at risk by failing to communicate with the doctor, a senior colleague. Peggie says that Upton has fabricated the claims, but has been warned she faces the sack if the ruling goes against her. The hearing, originally scheduled in February, went ahead on June 25, it can now be reported.
The stakes are equally high for Upton if Peggie’s assertion that she made up potentially career-ending claims is vindicated"
"Foran said that NHS Fife was now in such a position that if it exonerated Peggie at the disciplinary hearing, it would fatally undermine the case put forward by its KC in court. “If they exonerate her, and say she hasn’t engaged in any hate-based conduct, then the legal defence NHS Fife’s lawyers have been arguing in court falls away,” Foran said.
“If they find against her, then they’ll be sued again, because Sandie Peggie will be able to claim it wasn’t a fair process because NHS Fife has already said publicly ‘she’s guilty, she did this’. The way the tribunal case has been run makes the fact that Sandie is still under investigation a real problem for them.
“It just seems like a big blunder. Why would you launch this as your defence when she’s still under investigation? That baffles me.”"