The UK Government has launched a Call for Evidence on how legal protection for the professional title ‘nurse’ should be implemented, following its commitment to extend statutory protection beyond the existing title of ‘registered nurse’.
The move follows the introduction of the Nurse (Use of Title) Bill in 2025 by Labour MP for Brent East, Dawn Butler, and forms part of wider reforms to health and care regulation. On International Nurses Day, the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed that measures to safeguard the title in law will be brought forward during this Parliament.
Currently, the titles ‘registered nurse,’ ‘midwife,’ ‘specialist community public health nurse’ and, in England, ‘nursing associate’ are protected by law. It is already a criminal offence for anyone to falsely claim these titles or misrepresent themselves as being on the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register. However, the standalone title ‘nurse’ is not currently protected, allowing individuals who are not NMC-registered to use it in some job titles. Proposed reforms would make it a criminal offence for anyone who is not registered with the NMC to describe themselves as a nurse, including where the word forms part of a longer job title. The changes are expected to be subject to public consultation in 2027 before legislation is introduced.
The British Association of Medical Aesthetic Nurses (BAMAN) said it will submit an organisational response to the consultation and has encouraged members to provide individual evidence. The consultation is open to healthcare professionals, regulators, employers, educators, patients and members of the public from across the UK. The Government is also seeking views on which existing roles should remain exempt from the legislation, such as dental nurses, whose title is already protected under separate legislation. Responses will help inform the final shape of legislation designed to strengthen public confidence and reduce confusion over who is qualified to practise as a nurse.
Gareth Lewis, BAMAN CEO, commented, “The launch of this Call for Evidence marks a significant milestone for the nursing profession and is a welcome opportunity to strengthen public protection. Patients have a right to know that when someone describes themselves as a nurse, they are speaking to a professional who is appropriately qualified, regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and accountable to the highest professional and ethical standards. Protecting the title ‘nurse’ in law would provide greater clarity for the public, reduce confusion, and strengthen patient safety across healthcare, including the medical aesthetics sector. For nurses working in medical aesthetics, legal protection of the title would recognise the education, clinical expertise and professional accountability that define nursing practice. It would help safeguard the integrity of the profession and reinforce public confidence in those delivering aesthetic treatments. As the leading professional association representing nurses working in medical aesthetics, BAMAN has consistently supported initiatives to protect the title ‘nurse’, including the Royal College of Nursing’s Protect Nurse campaign. We will be submitting a comprehensive organisational response to the Government’s consultation and are encouraging all of our members to contribute their own individual responses. It is vital that the experiences and perspectives of registered nurses working within medical aesthetics are reflected as Government considers future legislative change.”