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MPs urge regulator to keep its focus on clearing case backlog By Jennifer Sprinks

TIM GEORGE

The Nursing and Midwifery Council’s progress in becoming a more effective regulator is ‘fragile’ and it still has a ‘stubbornly high’ number of historic cases to conclude, according to MPs. The Commons health committee’s annual report on the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) performance in 2013 says the regulator has improved, particularly in clearing its fitness to practise (FtP) backlog. The MPs welcomed the

NMC’s plans to reduce the time it takes to deal with FtP cases from 18 months to 15 months by the end of this year and eventually bring it down to 12 months. However, the committee expressed disappointment that the number of historic cases – those predating 2011 – has only fallen from 572 to 428. The MPs also warned that the NMC must not allow any challenges in the future, such as revalidation for nurses, to stall progress. Launching the report, health committee chair Stephen Dorrell said:

‘It is essential that the new challenges it now faces do not cause the NMC to take its eye off the ball.’ NMC chief executive Jackie Smith told Nursing Standard that legislative changes to healthcare regulation, currently being drawn up by the Law Commission, will enable the NMC to handle FtP cases more quickly. She said that it now holds 22 hearings a day, up from eight two years ago. ‘We have made good progress, but completely agree with the committee and have absolutely no intention of losing that focus on our performance,’ said Ms Smith. The health committee expressed concerns over the lack of detail in the NMC’s proposed revalidation model, saying it will review its progress at the end of March. However, Ms Smith said: ‘The basics of the new model are already there. We know it has got to be risk-based and proportionate, and I believe we have achieved that by modelling it on the registration renewal process.’

Right balance

Carter’s Christmas visit to the Beacon RCN general secretary Peter Carter paid tribute to dedicated nursing staff who worked over the festive period. Dr Carter made a Christmas morning  visit to meet staff and service users at the  Beacon in St Albans, a rehabilitation unit  for people with mental health problems. He told Nursing Standard: ‘Many of  our members work through the holidays.  I have been impressed by the truly  outstanding, professional staff here.’ At the Beacon, Dr Carter (above)   met, from left to right, Sally Webb,  

NURSING STANDARD 

Paul Rogers, Premlata Saminaden and  Minser Nalugwa.  n Health secretary Jeremy Hunt praised  district nurses in his seasonal message.  ‘You do an inspiring job, not just over  Christmas but throughout the year. We  need more of you,’ he said.  Last month, education and training  provider Health Education England  announced that there would be   29 extra district nurse training places   in 2014/15, up from 402 in 2013/14   to 431 in 2014/15.

The committee stated that in the wake of the Francis report into failings at Stafford Hospital, the NMC should urgently raise its profile among registrants and the public, particularly making clear nurses’ professional obligation to voice concerns about staffing levels. RCN head of policy Howard Catton echoed the health committee’s warnings and said: ‘The balance has got to be right in recognising that failures in care are not solely down to the individual, but also broader system or organisational issues. ‘If factors such as a lack of resources, training or staffing levels are at play, then the NMC should identify them.’ january 8 :: vol 28 no 19 :: 2014  13 

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MPs urge regulator to keep its focus on clearing case backlog.

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