Patients and healthcare staff in Northern Ireland urged to help modernise practice learning for future nurses and midwives

More than 5,000 people from across the UK have responded to the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) 12-week public consultation since it launched in April – including more than 230 in Northern Ireland.

The regulator is seeking views on a series of thought-provoking proposals designed to strengthen practice learning requirements and modernise nursing and midwifery education. These include:

• Reducing the minimum number of hours required for nursing programmes from 4,600 to 3,600 hours
• Extending midwifery programmes from three to four years
• Strengthening anti-racism and cultural competence in education
• Ensuring all nursing students complete a community-based practice learning placement.

The consultation follows two years of extensive research and engagement, which found that while many students have positive practice placements, the quality of practice learning can vary. In 2025 alone, the NMC held 25 engagement events attended by 1,250 people from across the UK.

The consultation therefore asks whether changes are needed to ensure that the next generation of nurses and midwives are better prepared for the realities of modern health and care.

Ahead of the consultation closing on 23 July, the NMC is calling for more people in Northern Ireland to share their feedback on the proposals, to ensure any changes are informed by UK-wide perspectives.

Nurses account for the largest group of respondents in Northern Ireland, with 175 giving their input so far.

Mary Frances McManus, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer at the Department of Health in Northern Ireland, said:

“This practice learning review is highly significant and has the potential for wide-ranging impact, making it vital that the views of nurses, midwives and those supporting students across Northern Ireland’s health and social care system are fully represented.

“Pre-registration programmes in Northern Ireland, as a devolved nation, are underpinned by strong and effective partnerships between Approved Education Institutions and practice learning partners, supporting high-quality student learning and robust preparation for practice.

“Significant engagement has already been undertaken across NI, led by Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council, to further raise awareness and promote engagement with the consultation survey, with more than 230 responses received to date, and we expect this to continue to grow over the incoming weeks.”

Since launching the consultation, the NMC has continued discussions with its independent steering group, student advisory group and public advisory group, while representatives have taken part in a series of webinars and engagement events with stakeholders across the UK, including sessions organised by the Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council.

Chris Dzikiti, Executive Director of Professional Practice, said:

“Practice learning gives nursing and midwifery students the opportunity to apply their learning in real-world settings and build the skills they will rely on throughout their professional careers.

“With less than two weeks remaining before the consultation closes, we want to hear from as many people as possible across Northern Ireland – including healthcare professionals, students, educators, patients and members of the public.

“It is particularly important that we hear from people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds. By bringing together a broad range of experiences and perspectives, we can help ensure future education standards support students to thrive in practice and prepare them to deliver high-quality care in an increasingly complex and diverse health and care system.”

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