Responding to the two independent reviews into NMC conduct, RCN Chief Nursing Officer Lynn Woolsey, said:

“The RCN welcomes the long-awaited publication of both reports and the opportunity it provides the NMC to reflect on its past failures and continue its path to reform.

“While it is positive that nearly all of the 20 cases as part of its Fitness to Practise (FtP) review were found to be handled well, it is far from a full picture. There are hundreds more cases where our members remain in limbo, sometimes left to wait for years before the process is concluded. Tragically, due to the disproportionate number of referrals, many of those impacted are Black and Minority Ethnic (BME). The focus now must be on dealing with these cases swiftly and fairly.

“By changing its whistleblower policy and strengthening its guidance on how registrants’ private lives can impact an FtP decision, the NMC is taking steps to restore confidence that has been lost. Our members, some of whom have been and continue to be severely affected by the NMC’s past failures, will need to see evidence these reforms are working before any judgement is made.

“In the meantime, we will continue to work with the NMC to ensure that its guidance is accurate and applied in a consistent manner, and that the experience of our members who are going through the FtP process is improved.”  

Ends

Notes to editors  

The two NMC reports, published today, can be found here.