NMC making fitness to practise “more compassionate”

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has announced a series of reforms aimed at making the fitness to practise process more compassionate and supportive for nurses, midwives, and nursing associates. The changes are designed to improve the experience of registrants, particularly those with complex support needs, and to ensure timely and proportionate handling of cases.

Recognising the distress that fitness to practise proceedings can cause, the NMC has prioritised improvements in casework timeliness while also exploring new ways to help registrants engage more effectively. A key development is the creation of a Professional Support and Engagement Team (PSET), staffed by professionals with backgrounds in health, social care, and related fields. This team plays a central role in delivering tailored, values-based support to some of the most vulnerable individuals involved in fitness to practise cases.

In addition, the NMC has launched a pilot programme focused on cases involving registrants’ physical or mental health. This initiative adopts a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together clinical and safeguarding advisers to conduct proportionate investigations and provide personalised support. The pilot has reviewed 83 cases so far in 2025, with early data indicating faster progression and improved outcomes.

One registrant’s representative commented on the pilot’s impact, stating, “It shows the NMC is able to pick up on the seriousness of a member’s mental health conditions in some cases themselves without the representative body asking them to consider it.”

Looking ahead, the NMC plans to introduce further reforms to enhance the fitness to practise experience. These include more compassionate initial contact when concerns are raised, and additional resources for registrants who are unrepresented during the process.

Lesley Maslen, Executive Director of Professional Regulation at the NMC, emphasised the organisation’s commitment to putting people first. “We are committed to making fitness to practise more compassionate and supportive,” she said. “These changes are the first of several practical, evidence-driven improvements we are exploring, and it is reassuring to see they are being well received by people in the process.”

Maslen also highlighted progress in case resolution, noting that the screening caseload has dropped to its lowest level in five years, with a higher average of cases now being resolved within 15 months.

For registrants seeking support, the NMC offers a 24/7 Careline service staffed by trained counsellors, providing confidential emotional and practical assistance. Additionally, the investigation team continues to assess concerns passed on by the screening team, compiling reports for case examiners to determine appropriate next steps.

These developments mark a significant shift in the NMC’s approach to regulation, placing greater emphasis on empathy, responsiveness, and the wellbeing of healthcare professionals.

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