New forum to support diaspora nursing and midwifery professionals

There are more than 286,000 nurses, midwives and nursing associates who are Black, Asian or minority ethnic – a third of the Register. These professionals make a vital contribution to UK health and care services, yet many continue to face cultural barriers, racism and discrimination in their working lives.

The Diaspora Registrant Associations Forum (DRAF) provides a dedicated space for the NMC to learn from diaspora professionals’ experiences of working in UK health and care – so that regulation supports them to thrive.

The forum is made up of senior representatives from diaspora registrant associations across the UK, including chairs and senior nurse leaders, who provide pastoral and wellbeing support.

The membership spans a wide range of communities, including African, Caribbean, South Asian, East Asian, European, Middle Eastern, refugee, and faith-based networks.

Under its refreshed membership, the forum will also contribute to the NMC’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) strategy, ensuring regulatory processes are inclusive and responsive to diverse experiences.

The refreshed forum met for the first time on Monday (11 January) to discuss some of the NMC’s top strategic priorities, including Fitness to Practise improvements and reviews of the Code and revalidation process.

Membership of the forum reflects the diaspora registrant associations that have engaged with the NMC to date, and DRAF remains open to working with a wide range of internationally educated and diaspora groups

Tracey MacCormack, Chair of the Diaspora Registrant Associations Forum, and Assistant Director for Midwifery at the NMC, said:

“The Register is becoming increasingly diverse. A third of nursing and midwifery professionals are now Black, Asian or minority ethnic, making it vital that we understand the experiences and challenges they face so we can better support them.

“Our refreshed Diaspora Registrant Associations Forum strengthens how we work alongside diaspora registrants, actively involving them in shaping our strategic priorities. By working collaboratively through the Forum, we can identify emerging issues earlier and act on them in a timely way, helping ensure our approach to regulation supports safe and effective care for the public.”

The relaunched forum was welcomed by members at the first meeting, including Laura Godfrey-Isaacs, Co-Founder and Chair of Shifrah UK:

"For Shifrah UK and Jewish nurses and midwives, DRAF creates an important platform to educate professionals about Jewish practice, highlight and challenge antisemitism, and contribute to safer, more culturally informed maternity care for Jewish families and for Jewish professionals themselves.”

Herbert Mwebe, Director of Uganda Nurses and Midwives Association UK, added:

"DRAF provides us space to dialogue and have frank discussions with the NMC, and other DRAF diaspora groups on the challenges impacting the professional development of internationally educated and diaspora nursing and midwifery professionals. We were grateful to be involved in the first meeting of the refreshed forum, and to understand more about the NMC's strategic priorities."

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