Independent reviews bolster NMC’s fitness to practise reforms

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has published two independent historical reviews into its handling of selected fitness to practise cases, aiming to provide both reassurance about past decisions and learning to inform ongoing improvements.

The first report examines the regulatory handling of cases raised by whistleblowers, NMC colleagues and media coverage.

The second focuses on the treatment of a whistleblower and the council’s internal culture around raising concerns.

Both reviews, commissioned in late 2023, acknowledge areas where the NMC’s processes fell short and recommend stronger mechanisms for early case recognition, consistency in decision-making and support for individuals raising fitness to practise concerns.

The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) has welcomed publication of these reports, noting that they will feed directly into the work of the Independent Oversight Group, established in September 2024 to monitor the NMC’s response to its 2024 culture review.

The PSA said the findings are crucial for its upcoming performance assessment and emphasised that transparent, timely handling of fitness to practise referrals remains central to public protection and professional confidence.

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