NMC takes ‘decisive action’ after uncovering widespread failures in handling health and character checks

NMC says it is taking “decisive action” after uncovering a 12‑year failure to properly assess a “substantial number” of health and criminal conviction declarations, prompting warnings from the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) about serious risks to public protection.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has revealed that for more than a decade it did not consistently follow its own published guidance for handling health and character declarations made during registration and revalidation. The regulator said the issue came to light after a staff member raised concerns under its newly promoted “speak up” culture.

A rapid review of 18,060 applications found that 421 cases require further investigation by an Assistant Registrar, with the NMC estimating that up to 15 professionals may ultimately be referred to an independent panel with a recommendation for removal from the register. The NMC stressed that the vast majority of cases are expected to require no further action.

Chief Executive and Registrar Paul Rees MBE apologised, calling the failure “completely and utterly unacceptable” and saying the organisation is “turning over all the stones” as part of its three‑year transformation plan. He said the discovery was made possible by new values centred on integrity and a stronger internal culture that encourages staff to raise concerns.

The PSA confirmed it was notified in February that a “substantial number” of health and criminal conviction declarations had not been handled in line with NMC guidance, describing the situation as a “serious failure” that “undermines the integrity of the NMC’s register.” It said the scale of the issue presents a significant public protection risk because declarations were not consistently referred to an Assistant Registrar as required.

The PSA said it has been receiving weekly updates from the NMC and will scrutinise the regulator’s response as part of its 2025/26 performance review. It emphasised the need for urgent and effective steps to ensure such failures cannot recur.

The NMC has begun contacting the 421 affected professionals, with tailored support and safeguarding assessments in place. It has not sought any interim orders at this stage, saying risk assessments have not indicated an immediate need to restrict practice. Employers are being advised not to take action unless contacted directly.

The regulator is now conducting a wider investigation into how the failure occurred and is introducing “health checks” across its regulatory functions, alongside a new Quality Management System designed to ensure consistent adherence to policy and procedure.

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