The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has announced the next phase of its fitness to practise reform programme, introducing Legally Qualified Chairs to lead some hearings as part of efforts to improve the efficiency and consistency of decision-making.
Under the changes, suitably qualified legal professionals will be able to chair selected fitness to practise hearings. The NMC says the move is intended to support more proportionate, timely and effective case management while maintaining public protection and confidence in the regulatory process.
The introduction of Legally Qualified Chairs forms part of a wider programme of fitness to practise reform, which aims to reduce delays and improve the experience of those involved in proceedings, including nurses, midwives, nursing associates, witnesses and complainants. The regulator has stated that the changes are designed to help hearings progress more efficiently while ensuring decisions remain fair, evidence-based and focused on public protection.
According to the NMC, the approach builds on learning from other professional regulators that already use legally qualified individuals to chair fitness to practise proceedings. The regulator believes the change will strengthen the management of hearings and support more consistent handling of legal and procedural issues.
The NMC said the introduction of Legally Qualified Chairs represents an important step in its ongoing programme to modernise the fitness to practise process, with the aim of delivering hearings that are both fairer and faster while continuing to uphold professional standards and maintain public confidence in regulation.
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