The UK nursing regulator’s chair says he will not step down after a damning report revealed that at least 16 nurses have committed suicide while under investigation.
This comes as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is facing a barrage of criticism after a review found its “toxic” culture was putting the public and those it regulates at risk.
The review, prompted by investigations of whistle-blower claims and by former Public Prosecutor Nazir Afzal KC, revealed that just in the past year, six nurses had taken their own lives while under investigation.
It warned that long delays by the regulator were “leaving people in limbo”, with investigations taking years to conclude.
Now, after questions by The Independent to its Board, the NMC has admitted that since 2018, at least 16 nurses have killed themselves. It cannot be confirmed whether the suicides were directly linked to investigations.
This month an inquest is due to take place into the death of one registrant who was facing an investigation.
During the board meeting last week, interim chief executive Helen Herniman said: “We offer our sincerest sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of anyone who has died by suicide while under or having concluded a fitness to practise investigation.
“(We) will also engage with any coroner’s inquests to support their inquiries, and … seek to identify any learnings …as to how we can continue to improve our processes to minimise the impact on people.”
The organisation’s chair, Sir David Warren, revealed that he had been directly copied into whistle-blowing concerns before the regulator commissioned two independent inquiries last year.
He confirmed he does not intend to step down after questions from the public over his position. “I think, first, it is important that there should be stability and continuity in the leadership as we tackle the very difficult issues which have been identified…
“Accountability for me is key to understanding what went wrong and how we can ensure this never happens again.”
Earlier this month dozens of nurses and midwives staged a protest outside the NMC offices over its regulation processes.
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