NMC Code set to highlight importance of delivering fundamental care to both living and dying

People in their final days and hours of life can expect to receive the high standard of care afforded to any person needing to be looked after by nurses. 

In response to the 2013 report More Care, less pathway: a review of the Liverpool Care Pathway, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has incorporated its fundamental care standards into its draft revised Code, which is currently out for consultation.

NMC Chief Executive and Registrar Jackie Smith said:

“Anyone training to be a nurse in the UK is required to demonstrate they can deliver care safely, competently and with compassion. Following the publication of More Care, less pathway in 2013 we published our Standards for competence to make the public aware of the fundamental standards of care that a nurse is expected to be able to do.

“In addition, as part of the review of our Code, we have incorporated these standards into the draft to make sure that all nurses registered in the UK, regardless of where they trained, understand what the public expect from them.”

The draft revised Code is out for public consultation until 11 August 2014.

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 Notes for editors

1.  We are the nursing and midwifery regulator for England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Islands. We exist to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the public. We set standards of education, training, conduct and performance for nurses and midwives, and hold the register of those who have qualified and meet those standards. We provide guidance to help nurses and midwives keep their skills and knowledge up to date and uphold our professional standards. We have clear and transparent processes to investigate and deal with nurses and midwives who fall short of our standards.

2.   The Standards for competence are available on our website

3.   For media enquiries, please contact the media team at media@nmc-uk.org or on 020 7681 5936.