Nursing regulator accused of concealing critical report

The beleaguered nursing regulator has been accused of covering up a report raising concerns about its failure to act over rogue nurses, The Independent can reveal.

- REBECCA THOMAS

Fresh calls have been made for a parliamentary inquiry into the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) - which is responsible for overseeing nearly 800,000 nurses, midwives and nursing associates in the UK – after it refused to publish the results of an internal review highlighting new failures to protect the public.

Senior staff at the NMC carried out an investigation this year into how the regulator had handled dozens of serious allegations against nurses and midwives after whistleblowers raised concerns last year.

The Independent revealed in 2023 that the watchdog was not fit for purpose, prompting it to admit a series of failings and commission two independent probes, one of which was carried out by top KC Nazir Afzal with its findings published in July.

The Afzal review found the NMC had taken seven years to strike off a nurse who had been accused of sexually assaulting a patient and colleague, and in a separate case did not take action against a nurse accused of accessing child pornography. It found a toxic and dysfunctional culture at “every level” and an organisation that turned a blind eye to serious sexual, physical and racist abuse.

The second independent probe, by Ijeoma Omambala KC, was due to be finalised this year but has been delayed.

The Independent understands the latest internal review found that the NMC is still failing to adequately consider restrictions on nurses’ and midwives’ practice when they’ve faced serious allegations, such as sexual misconduct, and child abuse.

The NMC board also found a “failure to identify and act on safeguarding concerns”. When asked by The Independent when the findings would be published, the regulator confirmed it does not intend to do so.

Mr Afzal blasted the decision and warned it appears that, in spite of his review, the regulator has “not understood the need for greater transparency in their dealings”.