Senior lawyers appointed to complete independent reviews
Published on 15 July 2025
Following yesterday’s announcement that, due to personal circumstances, Ijeoma Omambala KC will no longer be writing reports for us on whistleblowing and fitness to practise, which were originally commissioned in November 2023, we can now confirm we’ve instructed alternative senior lawyers to produce these reports.
We have instructed Victoria Butler-Cole KC and David Hopkins from 39 Essex Chambers to complete the review of a number of fitness to practise cases which were opened between 2015 and 2023 and raised by a whistleblower in 2023. Both Ms Butler-Cole and Mr Hopkins have extensive regulatory and public law expertise.
We have also instructed Lucy McLynn, Partner at the law firm Bates Wells and Chair of the UK’s leading whistleblowing charity Protect, to complete the review of the NMC’s handling of the whistleblowing concerns raised in 2023.
Ijeoma Omambala KC will hand over the relevant evidence she has obtained so far directly to Ms Butler-Cole KC, Mr Hopkins and Ms McLynn.
We aim to publish these reports by mid-autumn.
Notes
There are a number of factors that have caused delays to Ijeoma Omambala KC’s work, including waiting for the report of the Independent Culture Review and a subsequent wide-ranging grievance. Ms Omambala KC received the grievance report – which was the final outstanding matter – on 7 April.
For personal reasons, Ms Omambala KC has not been able to deliver her reports within anticipated timescales.
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