The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has moved to appoint an acting chief executive and register while it ‘urgently’ seeks an interim candidate and reflects on the events of this week, it has been announced.
Executive director of resources and technology services Helen Herniman will take on the role in an acting capacity. Mr Herniman is also the executive lead for the NMC’s ‘People and Culture’ review investigations.
It comes after Dawn Brodrick resigned before taking on the role – just four days after her appointment was announced – following concerns over her link to a high-profile NHS race discrimination case.
A statement on the NMC website said: ‘Following our update that Dawn Brodrick will not be taking up the role of interim chief executive and registrar at the NMC, we are moving ahead urgently with the appointment of an interim chief executive and registrar to provide stability for the organisation.
‘As part of that we are reflecting on what has happened over the past week and how we can improve the process.’
During an NMC Council meeting today the council was asked it would work to reassure members it will ‘take the work of anti-racism seriously’ as an organisation.
Sir David Warren, NMC Council chair, said: ‘I’m going to give absolute assurance on behalf of all members of council, that this is front and centre of the work of the organisation, in its regulatory activities, in its activities in supporting the professionals on our register, in our determination, not only to fulfil our functions in those regards, but also to ensure that the public is assured of the trust that they have a right to enjoy in the work that we do.’
He later added: ‘Anti racism, zero tolerance of racism, discrimination, bullying, harassment, and other discriminatory activity is at the heart of not just the effective running of the organisation, but the effective delivery of its regulatory functions, and support the professionals that will be front and centre of the council’s work going forward.’
