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NMC set to vote on fee increase, despite £55m projected savings appear to be one on the table. The council has a dilemma that involves two priorities – the impact of any increase on nurses and midwives versus the money that we need to deliver our core function of protecting the public.’

@katkeogh

The Nursing and Midwifery Council is on course to save nearly £55 million over the next three years, a report reveals. Changes to the way fitness to practise (FtP) proceedings are carried out will see the regulator pocket £54.5 million in savings, according to a report by auditing firm KPMG. It comes as the NMC council votes this week on controversial proposals to raise the annual registration fee from £100 to £120. Chief executive Jackie Smith has repeatedly insisted the regulator has no other choice than to increase the fee to cover the soaring costs of FtP. But the proposals have proved deeply unpopular with the profession, with more than 100,000 signing a petition opposing the move. An overwhelming 96 per cent of 4,500 people who responded to the NMC’s consultation on the increase opposed the idea. Some respondents said they were worried about the impact on nurses already experiencing hardship due to stagnant wages and the rising cost of living. Despite being on course to make the £54.5 million saving, the NMC says

Speeding up hearings

CHARLES MILLIGAN

By Kat Keogh

the £20 fee increase is still vital for FtP, with cases rising by 10 per cent a year. Around three quarters of the NMC’s annual budget is spent on dealing with FtP, and funding from a two-year, £20 million government bailout is due to end in December. Ms Smith told Nursing Standard: ‘We recognise that this comes at a really difficult time for nurses and midwives. If we had an alternative, we would take it – but there does not

The KPMG report identifies several areas where savings are on course to be made over the next three years. Cost-cutting measures include reducing the use of transcribers in hearings, which would net a £4.4 million saving alone over three years. Replacing full hearings, which can last for several days, with meetings would save a further £8.8 million. The NMC is also planning to appoint eight new ‘case examiners’ to swiftly investigate whether there are cases to answer when allegations are made against a registrant. These would replace the current panels of three people, who can be difficult to recruit, train and support. The new case examiner roles are dependent on the NMC council voting through rule changes this week. If agreed, they would come into effect early next year.

Trust earns highest CQC rating for leadership and exemplary care The first trust in England to be rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) under its new Ofsted-style rating system has been praised for its high quality nursing care. Inspectors found ‘exemplary care on wards, strong and effective leadership and an embedded culture of safety’ at Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Surrey.

Among the innovative practices highlighted by the CQC is a six-month leadership course for ward sisters, developed in partnership with the army. Director of nursing Nicola Ranger said: ‘I was so delighted that nursing leadership at ward level was seen as outstanding. ‘Many ward sisters feel they have lost their voice,’ she added. ‘This course helped them to feel that they own their ward and have authority over their

particular area. It ignited a sense of pride in them.’ ‘Outstanding’ is the highest of four ratings, the others being ‘good’, ‘requires improvement’ and ‘inadequate’. CQC chief inspector of hospitals Professor Sir Mike Richards said: ‘We found the vast majority of care to be outstanding. Even where we rated services as good, these were found to be towards the upper end of that scale.’

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Trust earns highest CQC rating for leadership and exemplary care.

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