Contact us
The Public Support Service puts patients, carers and the public at the heart of what we do. We offer support if you’ve come to us with concerns about a nurse, midwife or nursing associate.
Public support meetings
If you have raised concerns about someone on our register and we have decided to investigate the concerns, our Public Support Officers can meet with you to explain what happens next, listen to you, make sure we have all the information we need and explain any decisions we make to you.
Find out more about how the Public Support service works.
Independent support
If you have raised concerns with us or you are a witness, you can access independent telephone support, independently provided for us by Victim Support, which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Phone 0300 303 3731.
Making reasonable adjustments
If you need particular support, or an adjustment to be made because of a disability or an injury, at any point during your contact with us, from the first point of raising a concern, or making a referral, or attending a hearing, please let the relevant team know and they will be happy to help.
Find other sources of disability support
You can also find out more about how to make this website work better for you.
Accessible information
We've also produced some accessible information on fitness to practise for people who find reading hard.
These are known as 'easy read' guides.
- Easy read guide on public support meetings
- Easy read guide on fitness to practise stages
- Easy read information for witnesses
- Easy read guide on how we see if a nurse, midwife or nursing associate is safe to do their job
- Easy read guide on the people involved in your case
Support for witnesses
Watch our video on being a witness at an NMC hearing.
Support from our witness liaison team
Giving evidence can be a challenging, stressful and emotional experience. That's why we have a dedicated witness liaison team who can provide you with support before, during and after the hearing. But please note they cannot discuss your evidence, details of your case, nor any other witnesses.
You can speak with a witness liaison officer about:
- what to expect at the hearing
- support available to you at the hearing
- arrangements we can make for you to be able to give evidence (for example, if you need an induction loop for your hearing aid)
- other organisations that can provide further support.
So get in touch by phone 020 7681 5390 or by email
What if we can't take your complaint forward?
If we can't take your complaint forward for the reasons outlined previously, you could contact an advocate at an advocacy organisation for advice.
Find sources of support for a range of difficult issues
Advocacy after Fatal Domestic Abuse
Specialises in guiding families through Inquiries including domestic homicide reviews and mental health reviews, and assists with and represent on nquests, Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) inquiries and other reviews. 07768 386 922.
Child Bereavement UK
Supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child or young person (up to age 25) is facing bereavement. This includes supporting adults to support a bereaved child or young person. All support is free, confidential, has no time limit, and includes face to face sessions and booked telephone support. 0800 028 8840.
Child Death Helpline
Provides a freephone helpline for anyone affected by a child’s death, from pre-birth to the death of an adult child, however recently or long ago and whatever the circumstances of the death and uses a translation service to support those for whom English is not a first language. Volunteers who staff the helpline are all bereaved parents, although supported and trained by professionals.
Cruse Bereavement Care
Offers free confidential support for adults and children when someone dies, by telephone, email or face-to-face.
Harmless
Provides a range of services about self harm and suicide prevention including support, information, training and consultancy to people who self harm, their friends and families and professionals and those at risk of suicide.
Hundred Families
Offers support, information and practical advice for families bereaved by people with mental health problems, including information on health service investigations.
INQUEST
Provides free and independent advice to bereaved families on investigations, inquests and other legal processes following a death in custody and detention. This includes deaths in mental health settings. Further information is available on its website including a link to ‘The INQUEST Handbook: A Guide For Bereaved Families, Friends and Advisors’
Mencap Direct
Provides impartial advice to people with a learning disability.
0300 123 3393
Mind Legal Advice Line 0300 466 6463
Provides information on mental health care, signposts people to local advocacy services,
and offers advice on mental health law.
24-hour National Domestic Violence
Freephone Helpline
0808 2000 247
National Survivor User Network
Is developing a network of mental health service user and survivors to strengthen user voice and campaign for improvements. It also has a useful page of links to user groups and organisations that offer counselling and support.
Patients Association
Provides advice, support and guidance to family members with a national helpline providing specialist information, advice and signposting. This does not include medical or legal advice. It can also help you make a complaint to the CQC.
Respond
Supports people with learning disabilities and their families and supporters to lessen the effect of trauma and abuse, through psychotherapy, advocacy and campaigning.
Rethink Advice And Information Service
The Rethink Mental Illness Advice Service offers practical help on issues such as the Mental Health Act, community care, welfare benefits, debt, criminal justice and carers rights. They also offer general help on living with mental illness, medication, care and treatment.
The line is open from 9:30am - 4pm
Monday to Friday.
Samaritans
0845 790 9090
Provides 24 hour confidential support services.
Sands
Supports those affected by the death of a baby before, during and shortly after birth, providing a bereavement support helpline, a network of support groups, an online forum and message board.
Sane Line
Offering specialist mental health emotional support 4.30-10.30pm everyday.
You can also email through their website.
Tel: 0300 304 7000
Support after Suicide Partnership
Provides helpful resources for those bereaved by suicide and signposting to local support groups and organisations.
Victim support
Independent support and practical advice provided by Victim support.
What is an advocate and what is their role?
An advocate is a person who speaks up for you and puts your case across on your behalf. They are not a family member or friend, and they are independent of social services and the NHS.
An advocate's role includes arguing your case when you need them to, and making sure health and social care services follow correct procedures.
An advocate will support you so you can be involved as much as possible in decisions about your care.
For example an advocate might help you get information, or go with you to meetings or interviews to support you. They can also help you if you're making a complaint about the care you or someone else received.
Find advocacy services in your area
| Healthwatch |
Get in touch with your local Healthwatch to get access to the Independent Complaints Advocacy. A national network of independent local organisations which champions the views of people who use health and social care services in England. It signposts to Independent Complaints Advocacy and other local help and support organisations. |
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| Provides confidential and independent advice to the public on how to resolve a range of issues. | |
| Provides a helpline to answer queries about healthcare services, both NHS and private, and advocates for greater access to information, high quality care and involvement in decision making. | |
| A comprehensive list of advocates | |
| Search for an advocate specialising in supporting people with mental health needs and can help find one near you. |
| The Patient Advice and Support Service Scotland | An independent service in Scotland which provides free, accessible and confidential information, advice and support to patients, their carers and families in their dealings with the NHS. |
| AvMA (Action against Medical Accidents) |
Provides free specialist medico-legal advice and support with making complaints where there are concerns about patient safety, as well as support with inquests and other legal processes. |
| The Patients Association | Provides a helpline to answer queries about healthcare services, both NHS and private, and advocates for greater access to information, high quality care and involvement in decision making. |
| Citizens Advice | Provides confidential and independent advice to the public on how to resolve a range of issues. |
| The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance |
The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance can help you find an advocate in Scotland |
| The Patient and Client Council Northern Ireland | The Patient and Client Council will help you to complain about any part of health and social care. |
| AvMA |
Provides free specialist medico-legal advice and support with making complaints where there are concerns about patient safety, as well as support with inquests and other legal processes. |
| Citizens Advice |
Provides confidential and independent advice to the public on how to resolve a range of issues. |
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Provides a helpline to answer queries about healthcare services, both NHS and private, and advocates for greater access to information, high quality care and involvement in decision making. |
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A comprehensive list of advocate services |
| Community Health Council Wales | The Community health councils in Wales will:
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| AvMA | Provides free specialist medico-legal advice and support with making complaints where there are concerns about patient safety, as well as support with inquests and other legal processes. |
| Citizens Advice | Provides confidential and independent advice to the public on how to resolve a range of issues. |
| The Patients Association | Provides a helpline to answer queries about healthcare services, both NHS and private, and advocates for greater access to information, high quality care and involvement in decision making. |
| NHS Choices | Provides a comprehensive list of advocates. |