Profile
The profile of the Nursing and Midwifery Council needs to be raised with the public, who are the prime and most valuable source of information about the conduct of nurses. All patients should be informed, by those providing treatment or care, of the existence and role of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, together with contact details. The Nursing and Midwifery Council itself needs to undertake more by way of public promotion of its functions.
- The NMC stated it launched a dedicated helpline in 2023 for people considering a referral and established a Public Voice Forum in 2021 (DHSC and NHS England implementation update to the Thirlwall Inquiry, April 2025).
- The NMC commissioned research from BritainThinks in 2022 to understand public and stakeholder perceptions of the regulator (DHSC and NHS England implementation update to the Thirlwall Inquiry, April 2025).
- The NMC Code published in March 2015 requires nurses and midwives to be open and candid with service users (NMC Updated Professional Code, March 2015).
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThe government published "Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First" (Cm 8777) on 19 November 2013, responding to all 290 recommendations of the Francis Report. This followed an initial response "Patients First and Foremost" in March 2013. Key reforms included a new Chief Inspector of Hospitals, strengthened Care Quality Commission inspection regime, a statutory duty of candour, and the fit and proper person test for NHS directors. Volume 2 (Cm 8754) contains the government's detailed responses to each of the 290 recommendations. See: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7cd486ed915d63cc65d167/34658_Cm_8777_Vol_1_accessible.pdf
Progress Timeline
DHSC and NHS England implementation update provided to the Thirlwall Inquiry (April 2025). This is the government's own account of progress, submitted to the inquiry. Reviewed extent of implementation: Implemented – Ongoing. The NMC has since made a number of improvements aimed at raising its profile, improving public-facing engagement and supporting members of the public through its fitness to practise process. In 2014 it re-launched its website to make it more public focused and interactive. The NMC now has specific webpages and guidance for patients, families and the public about making a referral with and its wider fitness to practise process to better support them through the referrals process. In 2018 it introduced a Public Support Service to offer personalised support to those involved in our cases, and in 2023 launched a new helpline dedicated to supporting people considering a referral. In 2021 it established a Public Voice Forum. Meeting on a quarterly basis, this group enables the NMC to regularly touch base with members of the public, providing it with a better understanding of what they think about key changes and initiatives and helping members of the public influence and shape its work. Th NMC has also undertaken several pieces of research aimed at understanding stakeholder perceptions, helping identify how it can better engage with members of the public and increase understanding of its role. In 2019 it undertook a Perceptions Audit and in 2022 commissioned BritainThinks to research what its audiences think about the organisation and the wider health and care sector.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
Research published 2023 marking ten years since the Francis Report found mixed results. Structural and legislative changes largely delivered (duty of candour, FPPR, CQC overhaul, revalidation, Freedom to Speak Up Guardians). However, cultural change not fully embedded; understaffing, fear of speaking up, and poor complaint handling persist in parts of the NHS.
NMC Revalidation launched 1 April 2016 in direct response to Francis Report. All nurses and midwives must revalidate every three years. Replaced the Post-Registration Education and Practice system. Updated NMC Code published March 2015 strengthened requirements around candour and raising concerns.
NMC published updated Code of Professional Standards for nurses and midwives (March 2015). Standard 14 specifically requires nurses and midwives to be open and candid with all service users about all aspects of care, including when mistakes or harm have occurred.
Government published "Culture Change in the NHS" (Cm 9009) reporting progress on all 290 recommendations. Key achievements: 19 hospitals placed in special measures; those trusts recruited 109 additional doctors and 1,805 additional nurses; 129 board-level changes made; excess avoidable deaths fell by 450 in less than a year.
Government published "Hard Truths: The Journey to Putting Patients First" (Cm 8777) in two volumes. Vol 1 set out new actions; Vol 2 provided detailed response to each of the 290 recommendations. Approximately 204 of 290 recommendations were fully accepted.