Referral of NHS Lothian Nurses and Midwives to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the regulatory body in the United Kingdom responsible for setting standards of education, training, conduct, and performance for nurses and midwives.

It ensures that registrants are competent and safe to practise through registration, education, and enforcement of standards. The NMC also investigates complaints and concerns about nurses and midwives to protect the public and maintain public confidence in the profession.

NHS Lothian has an essential role to ensure the safe practice of registered Nurses and Midwives. Where there are failings in the nurse/midwife practice that cannot be addressed at local level a referral will be made to the NMC on behalf of NHS Lothian.

NHS Lothian has a responsibility to support registrants through any referral process, acknowledging that this can be a stressful time for the registrant and signposting to support services should be made available either via the line manager or by an individual trade union.