A new report reveals shocking levels of bullying, racism, and incompetence within the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the body responsible for regulating NHS nurses and midwives in the UK. The independent review highlights a dangerously toxic environment at the NMC, where competent nurses face lengthy investigations over minor issues while problematic ones evade punishment. Staff report high stress levels, frustration, and a lack of support.
The review, commissioned by former chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal and Rise Associates, corroborated the whistleblower’s claims of serious abuse being inadequately addressed. Over 1,000 current and former NMC employees, as well as over 200 panel members, shared similar troubling experiences.
The report found dysfunction at nearly every level of the NMC, with some staff suffering severe stress and health issues due to poor management. The NMC faces a massive backlog of nearly 6,000 fitness-to-practice cases, with some nurses and their families waiting years for decisions. Disturbingly, six nurses have died by suicide during NMC investigations over the past year.
The review also criticized the NMC for dropping cases of racism occurring outside the workplace, with some cases being dismissed as “people are free to be racist in their own time.”
NMC Chair Sir David Warren expressed profound distress over the findings and pledged urgent action to address the issues. The Department of Health and Social Care stressed the importance of supporting whistleblowers and expects swift and effective changes from the NMC.
