How the NMC will continue to regulate during the coronavirus pandemic

The NMC is making some operational changes during the Covid-19 pandemic, to prioritise its core regulatory functions and ensure it continues to regulate nurses, midwives and nursing associates effectively.  

Like everyone else, NMC colleagues will be affected by the virus and may be ill, have to self-isolate or care for others. We are therefore anticipating a reduction in capacity and are also following government guidance to support NMC colleagues to work at home as far as possible, and minimise non-essential travel for the people who work with us.

Many of the people we work with are heavily involved in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic and maintaining vital health and social care services under immense pressure. We need to make sure that we are minimising burdens on busy professionals.

The NMC’s priorities in these unprecedented circumstances are:

• maintaining our important role in protecting the public and promoting public confidence in nursing and midwifery
• ensuring we continue to register the right people swiftly – the health and social care system needs nurses, midwives and nursing associates more than ever now
• playing our part in the actions needed to respond to the coronavirus pandemic
• looking after our colleagues to make sure people are safe and we can continue to operate effectively.

Andrea Sutcliffe, Chief Executive and Registrar, said:

“These are unprecedented times as the UK responds to the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic. The nurses, midwives and nursing associates on our register are at the heart of that response and are working under immense pressure. I am so grateful for their skill, expertise and care that is helping so many people across the health and social care system.

“The NMC will be affected by reductions in our capacity as our colleagues may be ill, have to self-isolate or care for others. It is therefore important that we prioritise the work we do to protect the public and promote public confidence in nursing and midwifery. We also need to recognise the impact of government guidance to minimise the spread of the virus and the incredible pressure people who work with us are under.

“That is why we have announced a package of measures that make clear what we will continue to do, stop or modify. This may change as the situation progresses and we will update the information on our Coronavirus Information Hub when we need to.”

Find out more about the operational changes we're making

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