The chief executive of NHS Fife has announced she will take early retirement amid ongoing controversy surrounding an employment tribunal involving a gender critical nurse.
Carol Potter, who has led the health board since 2020, confirmed she will step down from her £147,000-a-year role next summer as the organisation faces mounting pressure over its handling of the Sandie Peggie case.
The Tribunal Controversy
The announcement comes ahead of the expected outcome in the landmark employment tribunal involving A&E nurse Sandie Peggie, who was suspended after objecting to a transgender doctor using female-only changing facilities at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy on Christmas Eve 2023.
Mrs Peggie, a veteran nurse at the hospital, argued that having to change next to Dr Beth Upton breached the Equality Act and subsequently launched legal action against both the health board and Dr Upton.
The case has sparked increased scrutiny of NHS Fife's management approach to single-sex spaces and drawn criticism from politicians and equal rights campaigners.
Political Pressure and Criticism
Scottish Conservative MSP Tess White, the party's equalities spokesman, described Ms Potter's decision as "correct and long-overdue."
"As chief executive, she is ultimately responsible for NHS Fife's appalling handling of the Sandie Peggie case from day one," Ms White stated.
Maya Forstater, chief executive of sex-based rights charity Sex Matters, criticised the health board's leadership, noting that "Carol Potter presided over an organisation that did not take care of its staff."
Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser added that "NHS Fife's reputation is in the gutter and ultimately Carol Potter has to take responsibility for that."
Leadership Legacy and Challenges
Ms Potter took up her position as interim chief executive of NHS Fife in January 2020 before being formally appointed in September that year. The Abertay University business graduate has held several senior positions in health boards across Scotland, including at NHS Lothian and NHS Lanarkshire.
During her tenure, NHS Fife faced multiple challenges beyond the tribunal, including record numbers of patients waiting for treatment at the end of last year.
In her retirement announcement, Ms Potter told staff she was "immensely proud of what we have achieved together," particularly highlighting the organisation's response to the pandemic and commitment to delivering safe care.
NHS Fife chairman Pat Kilpatrick praised Ms Potter's "outstanding leadership and contribution," stating that "her dedication to improving health services and outcomes for the people of Fife has been exemplary."
The outcome of the employment tribunal is expected before the end of the year, while Ms Potter's early retirement will take effect next summer.
