Nursing regulator has “dysfunctionality at every level”, independent review finds

An independent review has warned of a dangerously toxic culture within the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the regulatory body which oversees hundreds of thousands of nurses and midwives across the whole of the United Kingdom.

The report found that good nurses find themselves investigated for years over minor issues, while some bad ones escape sanction, and some NMC staff feel ‘stressed, frustrated, and unsupported’.

“It’s incredibly worrying to see such a level of dysfunction at such a scale,” says Nisha Sharma, Principal Lawyer in our medical negligence team, “especially so when we're seeing the direct effects this is having on patients that are they coming to us.”

The report found staff taking antidepressants, some with hair falling out, and some unable to sleep due to bullying and bad management. While many said they were content, far too many were struggling. Nisha says: “This is not only unfair on the hard-working nurses who are doing their absolute best given the circumstances regarding NHS funding and management, but it’s also incredibly unfair on patients and the public in general.”

The NMC report says: "We saw staff break down in tears as they recounted their frustrations over safeguarding decisions that put the public at risk." The organisation also has a growing backlog, with nearly 6,000 fitness-to-practise cases yet to be reviewed, meaning some nurses, patients and families wait years for a decision.

Nisha, who has been at the forefront of many medical negligence cases across Brighton and London, has supported clients in cases including birth injuries, delays in diagnosis, surgical errors and fatal claims due to mistakes made by nurses and midwives. Recently, she has been handling a growing number of claims against University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust in relation to criminal investigation, Operation Bramber, into the general surgery and neurosurgery departments.

She continues: “A damning report looking into University Hospitals Sussex Trust cited poor management of services for over 20 years. This is incomprehensible. The clinical negligence team and I here at Slater and Gordon have been doing all we can to support anyone who has been impacted by the poor standards at the Royal Sussex.

“We’ve heard from clients their first-hand experience of the minimal, or sometimes non-existent, support received from the hospital or Trust. We’re seeing often traumatic experiences of care with patients. They don’t deserve to have that happen. It’s integral that people know their rights and legal positioning when it comes to NHS care. We urge anyone who has been, or suspects the have been, subject to poor or potentially negligent treatment to get in touch. We’re here, we care, and we want to help.”

Sir David Warren, who chairs the NMC, told the BBC: "This is a profoundly distressing report to read. On behalf of the council, I give my absolute assurance that addressing this will be front and center of change at the NMC."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "It is vital that whistleblowers are free to speak up, knowing that they will be supported, and their concerns will be listened to and acted upon. This review makes clear recommendations for the NMC, and we expect its council to respond with swift and robust action."

To speak with Nisha Sharma directly on this matter, contact her at nisha.sharma@slatergordon.uk or 0330 995 5687.