Proposed Changes to NMC Fitness to Practise Rules Announced

On 03 October 2014 the Council of the Nursing and Midwifery Council approved the following proposed  changes to their Fitness to Practise (FtP) Rules and Education, Registration and Registration Appeals Rules:

1. Introduction of case examiners who will determine whether a nurse or midwife has a case to answer;
2. Introduction of an ability to review no case to answer decisions where the Registrar has reason to believe a decision was materially flawed, or new information may lead to a different decision;
3. Changes in the composition of registration appeal panels removing the requirement for the Chair to be a serving member of the Council and removing the use of a registered medical practitioner as a panel member in health cases, and;
4. Introduction of a power to request and verify information relating to a professional indemnity arrangements.

It is anticipated the above will take effect from early 2015.