First nurses and midwives to pilot the system of revalidation this spring

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has today announced the organisations it will be partnering with to test the system and processes underpinning revalidation. 

Revalidation is an additional key tool in public protection, which will help the NMC as the regulator of nurses and midwives to check that the people on its register are up to date and fit to practise throughout their careers. 

Participants are being sought from the nurses and midwives employed by these organisations to pilot the revalidation model. The pilot will help identify any ways in which we should refine the model, guidance and forms before its introduction at the end of 2015.

The organisations participating in the pilots are: 

• Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
• Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
• Mersey Care NHS Trust
• NHS Tayside, and local partners
• Public Health England
• Western Health and Social Care Trust

Jackie Smith, NMC Chief Executive and Registrar, said: 

“Revalidation is an important system of regular checks to make sure that nurses and midwives are up to date and fit to practise throughout their careers.

“The people who will help us to pilot the system of revalidation have an essential role to play in developing this new system, which will be the biggest change to the way nurses and midwives are regulated in decades.”

Jane Cummings, Chief Nursing Officer for England, said: 

“Patients should rightly feel assured that robust checks are in place to ensure their safety and protection. I welcome these pilots that will help to develop a sophisticated process of revalidation to ensure every nurse and midwife remains fit to practice to the highest standards.” 

Charlotte McArdle, Chief Nursing Officer for Northern Ireland, said:

“I am delighted NI is part of the pilot. The pilot is an important step in building confidence and understanding in the revalidation process which we will all be required to follow to demonstrate our fitness to practice as a professional and as an accountable practitioner. I very much look forward to reviewing the outcomes of the pilot and I am confident that the learning gained from the pilots make the process of revalidation very robust.”

Ros Moore, Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland, said:

“Revalidation will contribute significantly to ensuring that Scotland has one of the safest healthcare systems in the world and it is crucial that we support the NMC in developing its model. I am delighted that NHS Tayside will work with local partners, alongside the NMC, to pilot revalidation on our behalf, which will help shape the way forward for Scottish nurses and midwives.”

Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive at Public Health England, said:

“Revalidation is important in public assurance of up to date skills and knowledge in all branches of nursing and midwifery.

“We are delighted therefore that NMC has identified PHE as  pilot site to ensure the system of revalidation works for nurses and midwives in PHE and will support our staff to revalidate.”

Viv Bennett, Director of Nursing and Midwifery in Public Health England, said:

“Revalidation is important for patients, the public and nurses and midwives themselves.  It enables patients families and communities to know that their nurses and midwives have up to date skills to provide high quality care, the public to have confidence in these professions and nurses and midwives to reflect on their practice, be supported to develop and be able to assure themselves and to demonstrate their knowledge and professionalism in all forms of health and care.  As Director of Nursing and Midwifery in PHE I am delighted the PHE is a pilot site enabling us as public health nurses and midwives to be in the forefront of this important development for our professions.”

Eileen Sills, Director of Nursing for Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“I am absolutely delighted that the NMC has chosen us to be a pilot. This is such an important time for the profession and to able to participate in this development will be well received by our staff.” 

NHS Tayside Nurse Director, Dr Margaret McGuire, said: 

“I am pleased that NHS Tayside, together with local partners, will be testing the NMC’s proposed model for revalidation on behalf of Scotland. I look forward to working with a range of personnel and staff groups to lead this important test which will help inform the future management and regulation of nursing and midwifery registration.”

Alan Corry-Finn, Director of Nursing for Western Health and Social Care Trust, said:

“The Western Trust welcomes the opportunity to participate in the NMC’s regional pilot revalidation system and is the only Northern Ireland Health Trust to be chosen. The Trust takes seriously the quality of care to our patients provided by our highly skilled nurses and midwives. The feedback from this pilot will ensure that patient care will continue to be of the highest standard.”

Revalidation will require nurses and midwives to confirm to the NMC that they are up to date and fit to practise every three years. Nurses and midwives will receive confirmation from a third party that they continue to practise in accordance with the NMC’s Code and that they have reflected on feedback from service users, including patients, colleagues and others. 

More pilot organisations, including those in primary care, social care, self-employed settings and the independent sector, will be announced later.

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 Notes for editors

1.   The Nursing and Midwifery Council exists to protect the public. We do this by ensuring that only those who meet our requirements are allowed to practise as a nurse or midwife in the UK. We take action if concerns are raised about whether a nurse or midwife is fit to practise.

2.   The model of revalidation and the revised Code will be discussed at Council on 3 December.

3.   For media enquiries, please contact Ann Brown at media@nmc-uk.org or on 020 7681 5649.