An independent culture review of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has uncovered bullying, racism and incompetence in the organisation.
The review heard from 1,000 current and former NMC nurses, along with more than 200 fitness-to-practise hearing panel members. “Virtually every level” of the NMC was concluded to be dysfunctional, with the report stating, “We saw staff break down in tears as they recounted their frustrations over safeguarding decisions that put the public at risk.”
A backlog of nearly 6,000 fitness-to-practise cases was found, with six nurses under review having taken their own life this year alone. The report says that some serious cases were dropped, including those concerned racism, because of time constraints.
Chair of the NMC Sir David Warren responded, “This is a profoundly distressing report to read. I express my condolences to the family and friends of anybody who has died by suicide while under fitness-to-practise investigation. Our safeguarding lead is urgently revisiting those cases and examining the impact of our processes on all those who are involved in them. I am extremely sorry to hear those who have shared their distressing experiences of racism, discrimination or bullying. I give my absolute assurance that addressing this will be front and centre of change at the NMC.”
