The publication of a much-anticipated review into fitness to practise (FtP) will continue to be delayed, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) said this week.
The Ijeoma Omambala KC report into fitness to practice at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) was due to be published last autumn but is yet to be released.
It is the second of three independent reviews into the regulator and follows the Rise Associates and Nazir Afzal culture review that was published last summer and revealed major concerns about bullying, racism and harassment.
A third review, into the NMC’s handling of whistleblowing disclosures, is expected for later this year.
At an NMC Council meeting yesterday, Gail Adams, head of professional services at UNISON, asked when publication was expected, with concern about the delay.
‘If there are any initial findings that can be shared, I think that would help start the process of rebuilding, because I appreciate we need to look at that,’ she said.
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Outgoing NMC Council chair, Sir David Warren, responded: ‘The report has been delayed for reasons beyond Ijeoma Omambala’s control and beyond our control.
‘Personally, I am sad that I have reached the end of my appointment in post without having received the review myself.’
A Professional Standards Authority (PSA) spokesperson (representing the body which has oversight of the NMC) also commented that Ms Omambala’s reviews were ‘important’ and accepted there had been ‘significant delays’ to the publication.
‘It is vital that the reviews take account of all relevant information to ensure Ijeoma Omambala KC is able to provide a full picture of the areas covered by the Terms of Reference of the reviews,’ they said.
Safeguarding support
Also at the meeting, NMC Council member Anna Walker suggested that a more ‘explicit’ reference to safeguarding could be made in the new advanced practice principles, to better reflect the additional responsibilities that advanced practitioners may lead on.
The NMC has begun reorganising safeguarding activities following the Rise Associates and Nazir Afzal review, first focusing on the safeguarding risks around the FtP process.
Last September, the NMC announced the establishment of a Safeguarding Hub. The NMC is also developing new guidance and processes to better embed safeguarding into the FtP process.
A full update on safeguarding work is expected to be published in the NMC’s safeguarding quarterly report in May.
Fitness to Practise update
NMC Council has reported progress on its FtP caseload. For the first time since May 2024, the NMC’s total caseload fell in January and again in February 2025 to 6,498, despite receiving 588 and 574 new referrals in each of those months.
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In January 2025, the NMC made more decisions at the earliest stage of referrals than ever before, with a record 797 cases at the screening stage either being closed or progressed for a full investigation.
There was an average of 546 referrals per month between April 2024 and February 2025, higher than the NMC’s original planning assumption of 493 a month.
Since April 2024, most referrals have come from members of the public, though employer referrals outweighed referrals from the public in February.
Overall, 34% of referrals came from employers, compared with 29% from both members of the public and ‘other’ sources (such as other healthcare professionals or the police) respectively.
Responding to the update, Lesley Maslen, NMC executive director of professional regulation, said the NMC ‘cannot afford to be complacent’.
‘That’s why we’ve realigned our plan to ensure we’re making prompt, proportionate decisions, managing referrals effectively, supporting vulnerable professionals and the public, and improving our culture.
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‘While challenges remain, every improvement we make brings us closer to a regulatory process that is faster, fairer and supportive for everyone involved in fitness to practise,’ she added.
