A range of people can attend a hearing, including:
Witnesses
Witnesses can include colleagues, the person who made the referral, other people in the setting who saw what happened, or employers, to name a few.
Find more information about being a witness
The NMC and the nurse, midwife or nursing associate can decide to call witnesses to a hearing.
If you're a nurse, midwife or nursing associate and decide to bring witnesses, then you should let your case coordinator know in advance of the hearing.
The nurse, midwife or nursing associate and their representative
The nurse, midwife or nursing associate who the concern was raised about will often be at the hearing and may also come with a representative.
They can choose to not come at all or send their representative for them.
Panel members
This includes the Chair, who is responsible for the proceedings, and two other members who'll be a registered nurse, midwife or nursing associate and a member of the public9.
Legal assessor
Legal assessors advise the panel on the law.
The legal assessor will speak with the nurse, midwife, or nursing associate to explain the procedures on the morning of the hearing.
They're not involved in making the decision.
NMC case presenter
The NMC case presenter sets out the issues with the nurse, midwife or nursing associate's practise for the panel and assists them in acheiving the right outcome.
Hearing coordinators
Hearing coordinators liaise with everyone before the hearing and help hearings run smoothly.
They also assist the panel with drafting their decision but aren't involved in making the decision.
Observers and journalists
Observers and journalists can attend the hearing, but not if the case is held in private.
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