Regulator fails to improve after clearing hundreds of ‘fraudulent’ nurses
The Nursing and Midwifery Council has not shown ‘sustained’ improvement (Getty/iStock)
A recent audit by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) found the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has not shown “substantial and sustained improvement” despite previous revelations of a “toxic” culture.
The PSA’s 2023-24 review revealed the NMC wrongly approved over 350 “fraudulent” or “underqualified” nurses to work in the UK.
The damning assessment follows the NMC’s admission that 15 rogue nurses, who should have been struck off due to criminal convictions or health concerns, were allowed to work in the NHS for up to 12 years.
This “astounding failure” came to light after a whistleblower prompted a review of 18,060 applications over a 12-year period.
The PSA’s 2024-25 review indicated the NMC met only nine out of 18 regulatory standards, a decline from the previous year, with ongoing concerns about education standards, slow investigations, and transparency.
