NMC comment on government response to promoting professionalism consultation

"People using health and care services have every right to experience the best and safest care possible. It’s therefore vital that procedures affecting how we support and regulate nurses, midwives and nursing associates – the largest group of health and care professionals across the UK – don’t get in the way of that.

In a constantly evolving health and care landscape, the NMC has long called for improvement to our current legislation. It is often too prescriptive and onerous when it comes to making changes for the benefit of those on our register, people using services and the wider public.

I’m really glad the response set out today recognises that and will enable us to operate with greater flexibility and autonomy – shaping our regulatory requirements more easily through guidance and policy, rather than detailed rules – which will be so much better for everyone involved.

It’s also pleasing to see today’s proposals chime with the work we are already doing to transform our approach to fitness to practise, focusing on looking at cases in a more proportionate, effective, efficient and person-centred way and treating everyone involved with dignity, respect and kindness.

There is a lot more detail in the Government’s response which we will consider carefully. I look forward to working with the Government, our fellow regulators and other partners, to make progress towards becoming the truly modern, responsive and caring regulator the NMC intends to be. That’s the way we will realise our ambition to support nurses and midwives in the UK and nursing associates in England to provide safer, better care for everyone using health and care services.”

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Read Promoting professionalism,reforming regulation:government response

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