3 August 2010
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) have introduced a new policy that requires nurses and midwives to submit a medical assessment when they reapply for registration following conviction or caution for a drugs or alcohol related offence. The policy was agreed this week and is effective immediately.
The NMC claim this approach reflects best practice and brings the NMC in line with other healthcare regulators. It will also extend to individuals whose fitness to practise is under investigation for alcohol or drug related offences. Work is currently underway to develop the policy for fitness to practise cases and it is anticipated this will be completed following consultation later in the year.
Drug and alcohol related convictions and cautions are reported to the NMC in one of two ways:
- through the police, and
- through a self declaration when they apply to renew their registration
More serious cases are investigated by an independent panel of a fitness to practise committee. Drug and alcohol related offences are often considered by the health committee to ensure the public are appropriately safeguarded.
NMC Chief Executive and Registrar, Professor Dickon Weir-Hughes said:
“This policy is designed to improve patient safety by aiding decision making providing additional evidence of a nurse or midwife’s health following receipt of a caution or conviction for an alcohol or drug related offence. As a responsible regulator we must be able to demonstrate that we fulfil our statutory requirements to safeguard the public in a way that is fair and proportionate.”
Often, alcohol and drug related offences are a sign of a serious health or personal issue. This policy will also support our duty of care to nurses and midwives so that they are directed to the appropriate services where they can receive help. In order to effectively safeguard the public, we need to be confident that any nurse or midwife who has received an alcohol or drug related caution or conviction in the years between renewing their registration is fit and safe to practise. This new policy will ensure that we have a robust process in place to safeguard the public.”