Referrals to other regulators

Sometimes a referral does not relate to a nurse, midwife or nursing associate who is currently on our register, but the person concerned appears to be registered with another healthcare regulator. We’ll advise the person who referred the case to us that a referral to a different regulator may be appropriate. We’ll disclose the referral and any relevant documents to that regulator ourselves if we consider that this may be necessary to protect the public from harm.

Similarly, where a referral does not raise concerns about the fitness to practise of a nurse, midwife or nursing associate, but appears to raise serious issues of public safety which should be investigated by another body (such as a systems regulator), we’ll provide that body with the appropriate information and advice. This may include disclosure of the referral and any documents to assist with consideration of the case in line with our fitness to practise information handling guidance on sharing information with outside agencies.

In some cases, we might need to make a referral to another regulator, and conduct our own full investigation. For example, where a serious concern about someone on our register also raises issues that a systems regulator should consider.

We have Memorandums of Understanding with a number of regulators including the Care Quality Commission and the Care Inspectorate. You can find a full list here.