2015-2016 Annual reports and accounts published

The NMC today published its annual report and accounts and fitness to practise annual report for the year 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016.

NMC Chief Executive and Registrar Jackie Smith said:

“These reports reflect a successful year for us. The introduction of revalidation has been overwhelmingly positive. Tens of thousands of nurses and midwives have revalidated so far and we continue to receive extremely positive feedback on the process.

“This year we have made some significant improvements to our fitness to practise processes, including the introduction of case examiners which has led to an increase in the number of decisions we have made after the full investigation.

“In addition, we have also launched our Employer Link Service, enabling us to better develop strong relationships with employers of nurses and midwives, helping to ensure that we receive the right fitness to practise referrals at the right time.

“As an organisation we will build on the important achievements of this year, while continuing to advocate for crucial changes to our regulatory framework which will allow us to become a more efficient and proportionate regulator which is better equipped to protect the public.”

In the past year the NMC has:

• Implemented revalidation, the new process that nurses and midwives follow in order to renew their registration with the NMC.
• Implemented the new requirements of EU Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications, including new language controls.
• Introduced case examiners to decide whether a case should be referred for a final hearing.
• Launched the Employer Link Service.
• Concluded 78 percent of cases within 15 months.
• Received 5415 new concerns relating to nurses and midwives; a 4.5 percent increase on the previous year.
• At 31 March 2016 there were 692,550 nurses and midwives on the NMC register.

-Ends- 

Notes for editors

1. The reports can be found here. 

2. For media enquiries, please contact Benjamin Jackson on 020 7681 5649 or email media@nmc-uk.org. 

3.   The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the independent professional regulator for nurses and midwives in the UK. We exist to protect the public. We do this by maintaining the register of qualified nurses and midwives and setting standards of education, training, conduct and performance. We make sure that nurses and midwives keep their skills and knowledge up to date through a regular revalidation process. If concerns are raised about the standards of a registered nurse or midwife, we have a duty to investigate and, where necessary, take action to protect the public.