NMC to gain powers to reopen closed fitness-to-practise cases

摘要

The Nursing and Midwifery Council is to be granted new powers by the government to allow it to reopen closed fitness-to-practise cases, Nursing Times has been told by the regulator's chief executive and registrar. Jackie Smith told Nursing Times she had been pushing for extra powers since she joined in 2010. "We are pushing the DH on time lines over the new powers but we think we will get it in by the end of the year," she said. The Department of Health is planning to grant the NMC legal powers under Section 60 of the 1999 Health Act that will allow it to use case examiners and grant it powers to reopen "no case to answer" decisions.