The Authority publishes its review of the NMC’s performance for 2018/19

The Professional Standards Authority has published its annual performance review of the Nursing and Midwifery Council. We review each of the statutory health and social care regulators each year to assess whether they are meeting the Standards of Good Regulation. This review looks at the NMC’s performance between April 2018 and March 2019 (and was drafted before the Covid-19 pandemic struck the UK). At that time, the NMC’s register covered almost 700,000 nurses and midwives practising in the United Kingdom and nursing associates practising in England.

We conducted a targeted review of the NMC’s performance, including a review of a sample of fitness to practise cases. The NMC has met 22 of the 24 Standards of Good Regulation. It has not met two of our Fitness to Practise Standards. These two Standards, relating to the transparency and fairness of its processes and keeping parties updated, were not met in our report last year. The NMC has undertaken considerable work to address the areas of concern we had identified. However, in the period under review, we did not yet see evidence of the impact of the measures it has taken.

More information about how we reached our decision is set out in our Performance Review - NMC 2018/19 or read a summary in our snapshot.

ENDS

Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care

Contact:

Christine Braithwaite, Director of Policy and Standards

Christine.Braithwaite@professionalstandards.org.uk

Reception: 020 7389 8030 | Email: info@professionalstandards.org.uk

Notes to the Editor

1. The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care oversees 10 statutory bodies that regulate health and social care professionals in the UK.
2. We assess their performance and report to Parliament. We also conduct audits and investigations and can appeal fitness to practise cases to the courts if we consider that sanctions are insufficient to protect the public and it is in the public interest.
3. We also set standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for health and social care occupations and accredit those that meet them.
4. We share good practice and knowledge, conduct research and introduce new ideas to our sector. We monitor policy developments in the UK and internationally and provide advice on issues relating to professional standards in health and social care.
5. We do this to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of users of health and social care services and the public. We are an independent body, accountable to the UK Parliament.
6. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (the NMC) regulates the nursing and midwifery professions in the United Kingdom and nursing associates in England. Its work includes: setting and maintaining standards of practice and conduct; maintaining a register of qualified professionals; assuring the quality of education and training for nurses, midwives and nursing associates; requiring registrants to keep their skills up to date through continuing professional development; and taking action to restrict or remove from practice registrants who are not considered to be fit to practise. As at 31 March 2019, the NMC was responsible for a register of 698,237 nurses, midwives and nursing associates. Its annual retention fee for registrants is £120.
7. Our values are – integrity, transparency, respect, fairness and teamwork – and we strive to ensure that they are at the core of our work.
8. More information about our work and the approach we take is available at www.professionalstandards.org.uk