Nursing regulator confirms the quantity of workers it has dismissed for racist or bullying behaviour in previous 18 months, because it strikes to fix broken status
Eighteen staff on the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) have been sacked for bullying or racist behaviour in as many months.
The regulator’s latest council meeting papers counsel 12 individuals had been dismissed, however the NMC has confirmed the upper determine to Nursing Standard.
NMC transformation plan adopted criticism over abusive behaviour
The NMC got here below fireplace for bullying, racism and sexism points in a 2024 review of its organisational culture by former chief public prosecutor Nazir Afzal. The evaluation was commissioned after a whistleblower accused the regulator of failing to sort out critical sexual, bodily and racial abuse within the organisation as a result of of a tradition of worry and cronyism.
The NMC printed a culture transformation plan final yr and signed the Unison anti-racism charter.
NMC chief government Paul Rees, who was appointed within the aftermath of the evaluation, says it would proceed to take motion towards racism and bullying and, whereas there’s some enchancment within the organisation’s tradition, there stays ‘more to do’.
‘Zero-tolerance approach and new set of values’
‘We’re constructing a brand new NMC, underpinned by a transparent anti-racist ethos and a zero-tolerance method to bullying,’ Mr Rees says. ‘We have introduced a new set of values – integrity, fairness, respect, equity and effectiveness – alongside a clear framework for our staff that defines the behaviours we want to see and the ones we don’t wish to see.
‘We are beginning to see signs of change, however, we’re clear there’s extra to do’
Paul Rees, NMC chief government
‘Where individuals bully others or are racist, we are going to take robust motion. We have rolled out one of probably the most intensive teaching programmes for managers throughout any UK healthcare regulator, to equip our leaders to steer the transformation of the organisation.
‘We are beginning to see signs of change, and I am often stopped by staff in the corridor or on the fringes of meetings, saying how different things feel. However, we’re clear there’s extra to do, and will proceed to drive sustained and significant change.’
In different information
