NMC welcomes publication of Bill that could “revolutionise healthcare regulation”

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) today welcomed the publication of the draft Law Commission Bill, Regulation of Health and Social Care Professionals.

Jackie Smith, Chief Executive and Registrar of the NMC, said:

“We welcome the publication of this potentially revolutionary Bill. However, this is the very first step on a long road to seeing this Bill implemented and becoming law.

“The inclusion of this Bill in the final parliamentary session would in the future, enable to the NMC to make some fundamental and much needed changes to the current system of delivering public protection.

“The Bill would give flexibility, particularly in our fitness to practise processes which are time consuming and expensive. We need to be able to modernise our approach if we are to meet our target to conclude 90 percent of our cases within 15 months, as we have committed.

“It would also give all nine healthcare profession regulators powers to work more closely with each other and to share certain functions if desired; a key recommendation from the Francis Inquiry report.

“I would strongly urge the Government to include this Bill in the timetable for the last parliamentary session. Without it the NMC cannot modernise its “outdated and inflexible”** decision making processes.

“We will work with the Department of Health to finalise the Bill to ensure it delivers the flexibility we need.”

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Notes for editors

1.   We are the nursing and midwifery regulator for England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Islands. We exist to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the public. We set standards of education, training, conduct and performance for nurses and midwives, and hold the register of those who have qualified and meet those standards. We provide guidance to help nurses and midwives keep their skills and knowledge up to date and uphold our professional standards. We have clear and transparent processes to investigate and deal with nurses and midwives who fall short of our standards.

2.   **6 February 2013, commitment made by the Prime Minister to “sweeping away the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s outdated and inflexible decision-making processes.” Stated as part of his response to the publication of the Francis inquiry.

3.   For media enquiries, please contact Madeleine Childs at madelein.childs@nmc-uk.org or on 020 7681 5936.