Scandal-hit nursing regulator wrongly approved hundreds of nurses to work in UK, damning report reveals
Review exposes series of failings by UK nursing regulator
- A review by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) found the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) wrongly approved over 350 "fraudulent" or "underqualified" nurses to work in the UK.
- The PSA's report revealed the NMC is failing to meet 7 of 18 national standards, including maintaining an accurate register and addressing patient safety risks.
- The wrongly approved applications included "fraudulent" entries from centres in India, Nigeria, and Pakistan, as well as nurses who had not completed sufficient training hours.
- Industry leaders and the original whistleblower expressed grave concerns about the NMC's lack of progress and its inability to self-correct, despite previous warnings.
- The NMC's interim chief executive acknowledged past failings but stated that "radical change" is now underway, following the resignations of its former leadership.