The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) will now allow nurses and midwives to pay their annual registration fee in quarterly instalments.
From today, nurses and midwives can now choose to pay their £120 annual registration fee by quarterly direct debit payments of £30.
Those who wish to can switch from an annual payment to quarterly payments by instalment through the NMC online account, using direct debit.
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This option is also available for nurses and midwives who are newly signing up to make payments.
However, switching to quarterly payments must be done 20 days before the first of the month in which a nurse or midwife’s annual fee is due.
The NMC launched the new payment option after nurses and midwives said a more flexible payment system was needed.
Nurses or midwives who wish to continue paying their annual fee on a yearly basis will still be able to do so, the NMC stressed.
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Jackie Smith, chief executive and registrar of the NMC said: “The NMC is delighted to launch this new payment option, which will give greater flexibility to nurses and midwives when they pay their annual fee.
“I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to respond to the positive and constructive conversations we’ve had with nurses and midwives to improve this service.”
The adjustment to payment options has been under consideration since a 2014 consultation.
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At the time, the move was seen as a way to help nurses cope with the NMC fee rise from £100 to £120, which took place in 2015.
A full guide to paying the NMC fee can be found on their website.