NMC reduces screening caseload to lowest level in five years

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has reported a significant reduction in its fitness to practise (FtP) screening caseload, which has dropped below 2,000 for the first time since July 2020. As of the end of July, the number of referrals at the initial assessment stage stood at 1,983, marking the lowest level in five years.

Despite receiving 633 new concerns during the month, the NMC successfully resolved 724 screening cases, demonstrating its ability to keep pace with incoming referrals while continuing to reduce the overall caseload. The organisation attributes this progress to effective prioritisation and collaborative efforts across its teams.

Lesley Maslen, Executive Director of Professional Regulation at the NMC, welcomed the milestone as evidence of the regulator’s ongoing commitment to reforming its FtP processes. “The news that our caseload at screening has fallen to its lowest level in five years illustrates the ongoing momentum of our plan for fitness to practise,” she said. “It shows our commitment to making more timely decisions so that people spend less time in our processes, either because we resolve the concern early or progress it to a full investigation more rapidly.”

Maslen added that the NMC will continue to build on this progress by improving not only the timeliness of decisions but also the overall experience for those involved in FtP proceedings. She emphasised the organisation’s focus on making its processes more compassionate, supportive and straightforward, describing this approach as central to the NMC’s broader ambition to become a fair, effective and trusted regulator.

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