New data reveals areas of nursing and midwifery practice of most concern to public and employers

The public are more likely to raise concerns about nursing and midwifery professionals’ communication and manner, while employers tend to focus on performance-related issues and competence, according to new analysis of fitness to practise (FtP) data by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

The NMC analysis makes other key findings:

• Members of the public are more likely to raise concerns about midwives than employers. Conversely, employers are more likely to raise concerns about nurses and nursing associates than the public.
• There was a 14 percent increase in new concerns from 5,058 in 2022/23, to 5,774 in 2023/24. The public have consistently raised more concerns than employers over the past few years, although there was a significant proportional increase in employer referrals in 2023/24.
• There is over-representation of certain groups in the FtP process with male professionals, working in mental health and learning disabilities settings being particularly affected. Male professionals account for 40 percent of FtP referrals of professionals with a mental health qualification, despite comprising only 26 percent of those professionals on the register.
• Professionals who have representation, actively engage in reflection, and take steps to strengthen their practice, are less likely to receive FtP outcomes that restrict their practice.

Writing on its website, the NMC said:

“Patients and employers are also similarly concerned with record keeping and dishonesty. The former relates mainly to patient records, care plans, or drug and medication records. The latter tends to involve misrepresentations or omissions related to patient care or employment.

“However, there is then divergence, with the public more often concerned by their nurse, midwife or nursing associate’s communication. This is usually when professionals are felt to be unfriendly, uncaring, or rude. Most of these public referrals highlight a lack of compassion or kindness, or a failure to provide sufficient or accurate information about care.

“In contrast, employers more commonly refer prescribing and medicines management issues, which typically involve errors in medication administration, breaches of local policies, or incorrect dosages. ”

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