Nursing and Midwifery Council Investigations

Nursing and Midwifery Council Investigations

If you have been referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council because your fitness to practice has been called into question, then it is essential that you receive specialist legal advice.

The NMC will consider allegations against nurses and midwives who are believed to have fallen below the standards expected by the NMC Code:

Click here to see the NMC code

Allegations that the NMC will investigate include:

Administration of medication
Neglect/abuse of patients
Alcohol or drug misuse
Criminal convictions or cautions
Serious ill health of nurses and midwives
Falsification of records/documents or dishonesty
Incompetence
Misconduct

Expert Representation

If the NMC believe that an allegation is credible, or considered serious enough, then an investigation will take place. The NMC will invite you to make written representations. It is always important to respond with representations to any allegation that has been made against you. At Poole Alcock we can assist you in making representations to the NMC. Written representations can make the difference between a case against you being closed, or continuing onto the next stage.

If your case does continue to the next stage, the NMC can refer your case to a Committee. A formal tribunal hearing could then follow. At this hearing the tribunal will decide whether the allegation has been proven or not and can move to sanction you if they find an allegation to be proved.

Nursing and Midwifery Councils

The sanctions the tribunal can impose upon you if allegations against you are proven include:

Caution Orders – a caution is received but you are allowed to continue practicing without restriction;
Conditions of Practice Orders – you shall be allowed to continue practising but only if you comply with conditions imposed against you. These 3. conditions can remain in place for up to 3 years;
Suspension Orders – you can be suspended from practising as a nurse or midwife for a certain period of time;
Striking-off Orders – your name will be removed from the register and you will not be allowed to work as a nurse or midwife in England

The NMC could also apply for interim orders to be made whilst the investigation against you is ongoing. Interim Orders can be made either placing conditions on your practice or even suspending you from practice, before any allegation has even been proven.

The sanctions and interim Order options available to the NMC are wide and could have catastrophic effects on your reputation and career.

Poole Alcock has expert defence solicitors based in offices across Cheshire, including Crewe, Alsager, Congleton, Sandbach, Nantwich and Wilmslow.

Alternatively, we are happy to discuss your case with you over the telephone. Call us today on 01270 256665 or contact us using this form and we will call you back to discuss your case.

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