How the NMC responded to whistleblowing disclosures from healthcare workers in 2025–26

From 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, the NMC received 159 whistleblowing disclosures, compared to 152 during the previous financial year.

The regulator took 253 forms of regulatory action in response and made 93 onward referrals to other organisations better placed to handle the concerns – including the General Medical Council, the Care Quality Commission and the Advertising Standards Authority.

The most common themes of disclosures to the NMC were unprofessional behaviour, management issues, dishonesty, patient care, criminal behaviour, harassment and health and safety.

Emma Westcott, Executive Director of Strategy and Insight at the NMC, said:

"Speaking up is fundamental to creating a culture of safety in health and care. It's vital that workers feel empowered to do so, and have confidence that when they raise a concern, they will be heard and appropriate action will be taken.

"We hope that this year's report demonstrates how, alongside our partners across health and social care, we continue to take whistleblowing concerns from the sector seriously.

“Thank you to all those who speak up in the interests of people’s safety. Raising concerns is vital to bringing issues to light, strengthening a culture of openness and driving improvements across health and care.”

Read the whistleblowing disclosures report for 2025–26.

Further information

• Find out more about whistleblowing on the NMC's website.
• Some disclosures were managed by more than one team and are therefore counted more than once in the overall total for regulatory actions.

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