The NMC is planning to launch new social media and free speech guidelines for the profession.  Nursing Notes reported that guidance will be produced in light of a nurse struck off after she told Channel 5 viewers during a political TV debate, “if you have voted Conservative, you do not deserve to be resuscitated by the NHS”.  The nurse later clarified that she would resuscitate people who voted Conservative.

The comments sparked controversy and led to a referral to the NMC which also covered other comments made on social media about the Conservative party.

The NMC’s Executive Director of strategy and insight, Matthew McClelland, explained:

“Under our Code nurses, midwives and nursing associates put the people in their care first – and that means treating people with kindness and respect and not expressing their personal beliefs in an inappropriate way.

“We firmly support the right to freedom of expression.”

“Later this year, we’ll be launching new guidance, developed with input from key partners, to support professionals to express their beliefs without damaging public confidence in the professions or raising concerns about fitness to practise.”

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