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NMC president first casualty of scathing report on nurse regulator

NMC president first casualty of scathing report on nurse regulator

The president of the NMC has announced her intension to resign in the wake of a damning report on the regulator's performance.

The Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence has just published the findings of its investigation into the nursing regulator, carried out at the request of health minister Ben Bradshaw.

The CHRE criticised the NMC for serious weaknesses in its culture, the conduct of its council and ability to protect the interests of the public. Click here for more details.

Ms Kirkland announced her intension to go today, though a date on which her resignation will have effect has yet to be determined. Following her departure from the post, she intends to remain as a member of the NMC's governing council as the elected nurse registrant member for Scotland.

'In their recommendations to the NMC, CHRE have stated that collectively and individually office holders and other council members should accept responsibility for the current difficulties and for their future resolution.' Ms Kirkland said.

'Although I have only been president of the NMC for a short time – 8 months, I share and take responsibility for the criticisms made by CHRE and I feel honour bound to do so,' she added. 'I therefore intend to resign as president of the NMC in order to maintain public confidence in the NMC and the important work the organisation continues to do to safeguard the health and well-being of patients and the public.'

Read details of the CHRE's findings in this week's NT.

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Reader Response

Added: Wednesday, 18 June 2008 13:03 BST
Keith Bradley-Adams, Port Talbot, United Kingdom

If the Minister (Ben Bradshaw) is dissatisfied with the NMC why does he not take this opportunity for central government to fully fund the regulation of nurses whilst retaining the independant status of the governing body? For example the police complaints authority is an independant body regulating police officers and does charge individual police officers £76 a year to fund its work.

If New Labour were to offer to fully fund the NMC i am sure they would find this an attractive measure amongst the electorate who could have increased confidence in the regulatory body and see a financial benefit for nurses which would be equally popular too!


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Added: Wednesday, 18 June 2008 11:54 BST
Anonymous, Wigan, United Kingdom

It looks like the enormous hike in fees in the last few years have not been well spent. Yet again, nursing is in the public spotlight for exactly the wrong reasons. Our regulatory body is a joke at our expense, and I for one do not find it funny. The next letter that comes from the NMC to every nurse in the UK will read '...following the recent report from the CHRE, the NMC finds it necessary to increase your annual registration fee in order to action the recommendations detailed in the report...' Whichever way you look at it we will pay for their incompitence.


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Added: Wednesday, 18 June 2008 10:13 BST
Anonymous, Colwyn Bay, United Kingdom

Wonderful,great,whatever next.........we as nurses have to pay £70+ANNUALLY to be regulated and now the big chief has quit.....what are we paying for and why should we?


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