Fifteen nurses with serious criminal convictions or health concerns were allowed to continue working in the NHS for up to 12 years due to significant failures by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the regulator has revealed. The disclosure follows a comprehensive review prompted by a whistleblower’s concerns over the NMC’s handling of registration applications.
The NMC examined 18,060 applications submitted over a 12-year period from nurses and midwives seeking to join or remain on its register, which is mandatory for health professionals practising in the UK. The retrospective audit aimed to determine whether all criminal convictions and health issues had been properly declared and addressed. The review identified 421 cases requiring reassessment, of which at least 15 involved individuals with convictions so severe that they should have been removed from practice immediately.
These professionals are now being referred to fitness to practice hearings, where striking them off the register is the likely outcome. The NMC described the issue as a “historical failure” linked to incomplete investigations into the applicants’ character and health declarations during registration renewals.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) criticised the regulator over the latest revelations. Professor Lynn Woolsey, the RCN’s chief nursing officer, described the situation as yet another example of the NMC’s systemic shortcomings. She said the regulator’s apologies were insufficient and expressed concerns about the erosion of public trust in nurses. Woolsey called for an independent probe into how such extensive oversights occurred and remained unnoticed for more than a decade.
The NMC has faced ongoing scrutiny following reports dating back to 2023 and 2024 highlighting a “toxic” workplace culture that hindered effective oversight. Earlier investigations, triggered by whistleblower accounts, revealed longstanding issues within the organisation, including failures to sanction nurses involved in serious offences. Notably, the regulator admitted in 2025 that it had not acted promptly after being alerted to concerns about Lucy Letby, a convicted serial killer nurse.
These issues led to a leadership shake-up at the NMC, with several senior officials, including the former chief executive, stepping down. Paul Rees was appointed as the new CEO last year as part of efforts to reform the regulator. Despite these changes, the recent audit uncovered profound lapses in safeguarding processes.
The NMC emphasised that the review was launched after an internal staff member raised concerns about procedures not being fully followed in previous application assessments. The organisation committed to referring all identified cases for fitness to practice hearings and pledged to implement reforms to prevent similar failures in the future. Meanwhile, nursing bodies continue to demand greater transparency and accountability from the regulator to restore confidence both within the profession and among the public.