Published: 03 December 2007
NMC Reneges on Agreement
The Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) has been severely criticised over unilateral proposals to change the way specialist community public health nurses (SCPHNs) register their qualifications.
Unite/Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association have expressed ‘deep concern’ over the failure of the NMC to consult over plans to revoke a two-year old agreement on the registration of health visitors and other community nurse specialisms.
Unite/CPHVA’s Acting Lead Professional Officer, Dr Cheryll Adams said:
“Our confidence in the NMC has been rocked to the core over its flagrant failure to consult with us and other interested parties over this reneging of the agreement reached with full consultation in December 2005.
Plans to revoke this NMC agreement may be part of ‘a hidden agenda’ to dumb down health visiting and will have very considerable implications for all those on the third part of the NMC register”.
Unite/CPHVA concern centres on the council’s plans to reverse its decision to allow SCPHNs to renew their registration without having to renew their nursing and midwifery registration.
Unite/ CPHVA held talks with the NMC’s Chief Executive, Sarah Thewlis last week in a bid to have the plans removed from the agenda of the NMC Council which meets on Wednesday, 5 December. So far, the NMC has declined to remove the item, so that further discussions can take place.
Dr Adams said:
“Revoking the existing rules for re-admission to the register could have immediate and future ramifications both in terms of public protection and the ability of health visitors and school nurses to effectively deliver a quality service to enhance the health and well being of children and families.
A full and robust consultation is therefore essential. The fact that the document going before council insinuates that health visiting is not a profession is proof for our concerns. We understand that the reason given not to re-consult on this issue was on the advice of the Department of Health”.
Unite/CPHVA will be reinforcing its concerns in a letter to Ms Thewlis before the council meets on Wednesday.
Dr Adams concluded:
“We are prepared to take this all the way to a Judicial Review, if necessary, as the country’s leading regulatory body for nursing should not act in such a high-handed way”.
To ‘add insult to injury’ when the registration fee leapt 86% a year ago it was noted that the fee increase included more than £1 million a year earmarked for the upkeep & maintenance of its central London headquarters.
One would have thought that if any public sector organisation could be relocated to a cheaper area it would be one like the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC). Being located in less palatial accommodation might even help prevent it taking high-handed actions like this one.
Further information
CPHVA website
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