RCN welcomes changes to NMC processes

Published: 14 January 2013

The Royal College of Nursing has welcomed changes to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration and fitness to practise processes.

Through consensual panel determinations, nurses and midwives who are subject to fitness to practise proceedings and who admit all the charges against them will be able to provisionally agree a sanction with the NMC.

Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, said: “This should offer a quicker process and is a better use of NMC resources for cases which clearly do not need to go to tribunal. Voluntary removal in addition to the introduction of consensual panel determinations will provide more flexibility and allow the NMC to give greater attention to their most serious cases.”

The RCN believes the NMC needs to be as efficient as possible if it is to justify increased registration fees.