New allegations

If we receive information about the practice of a nurse or midwife which suggests that there has been further misconduct, poor practice or difficulties caused by health or lack of knowledge of English, since a substantive order was put in place, we have to decide whether a panel should be made aware of the new allegation as part of the review process, or whether we should treat the information as a new referral.

Generally, we would make the reviewing panel aware of the new information when:

• it relates to the existing order, for example it suggests that there may have been a breach of conditions of practice
• the original case arose due to clinical or competence concerns, and the new information suggests that similar poor practice to those previously proved have occurred again
• it relates to health, for example it suggests that the nurse or midwife’s health condition (already established before a practice committee) has deteriorated.

If we decide not inform the reviewing panel of the new information, but to treat the information as a new referral, we will refer it to our screening team.

They will decide whether there should be a new investigation into the nurse or midwife’s fitness to practise.