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 Standards of Good Regulation. At the time of assessment, the NMC’s register covered over 724,000 nurses, midwives and nursing associates practising in the United Kingdom.
We conducted a targeted review of the NMC’s performance and concluded that it has met 17 of the 18 Standards of Good Regulation. The NMC did not meet Standard 15 which requires its process for examining and investigating fitness to practise complaints to be fair, proportionate and to deal with cases as quickly as is consistent with a fair resolution.
The NMC has met the Standard requiring all parties to a complaint to be supported to participate effectively in the process. It had not met this Standard for the previous three years.
More information about how we reached our decision is set out in our Performance Review - NMC 2019-20 or read a summary in our snapshot.
ENDS
Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care
Contact: media@professionalstandards.org.uk
Notes to the Editor
- The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care oversees 10 statutory bodies that regulate health and social care professionals in the UK.
- 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.
- We also set standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for health and social care occupations and accredit those that meet them.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 30 September 2020, the NMC was responsible for a register of 724,516 nurses, midwives and nursing associates. Its annual retention fee for registrants is £120.
- Our values are – integrity, transparency, respect, fairness and teamwork – and we strive to ensure that they are at the core of our work.
- More information about our work and the approach we take is available at www.professionalstandards.org.uk