Professor Judith Ellis to step down as Council member

Professor Judith Ellis has announced her intention to step down from her role as an NMC Council member on 30 June 2014. Professor Ellis has been a member of Council since January 2009 and was the interim Chair of Council from April 2012 to September 2012. 

Professor Ellis said:

“It has been an honour to be a registrant member of the Council and I have valued the opportunity I have had to play a part in strengthening the NMC’s role in public protection.” 

NMC Chair Mark Addison said:

“I would like to thank Judith for the time she spent as a member of the Council. 

“Her valuable skills and experience helped the Council to navigate a period of significant change and she has provided continuity and stability in the NMC’s leadership. She will leave a Council that has its feet firmly under the table.

“I wish her all the best for her future endeavours.” 

The Council is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the NMC and overseeing the work of senior NMC staff. It is made up of six lay and six registrant members, including one from each of the four UK countries.

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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.   During Professor Ellis’s time on the new Council, the Council has overseen the strategic direction of the NMC to deliver a number of key pieces of work, including:

   2.1   Clearing the historic fitness to practise caseload a year earlier than expected.

   2.2   The pilot for online registration services which will be available to everyone on the register by the end of 2014.

   2.3   Making sure the NMC remains on track to meet its six month adjudication KPI by December 2014.

   2.4   The NMC’s response to Robert Francis QC inquiry into the events at Mid Staffordshire.

3.   Mark Addison will be stepping down as Chair of the NMC at the end of his term in December 2014. He was appointed to Chair the NMC’s Council in July 2012 for an initial term of 18 months. Recruitment for his replacement begins shortly. Recruitment for a member of Council will follow.

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