NMC Defence for Nurses & Midwives
Specialist NMC Legal Advice and Representation with a Personal Approach
I am a specialist barrister and a former Head of Investigations at the NMC. I’m also a former registered nurse.
I provide affordable, clear, practical legal advice and representation for nurses and midwives facing action by the NMC.
As a direct access barrister, I can be instructed by you directly, without a solicitor, potentially saving you money.
My focus is on protecting your registration, using my extensive experience to guide you through each stage with straightforward advice to obtain the best possible outcome for you.
NMC Defence Services
Areas of Support
- Advice on NMC investigations
- Representation at NMC final hearings
- Representation at interim order hearings
- Appeals and reviews
- Consensual panel determination and agreed removal
- Regulatory advice at any stage of the NMC process
- Guidance on employer referrals
- Guidance on making a self-referral
When to Seek Specialist NMC Legal Advice
You should consider seeking legal advice as soon as you are contacted by the NMC or informed that a referral to the NMC has been made. Advice should also be sought before providing a response to the concerns raised.
A registrant’s approach to the referral is so important and can often determine the outcome of the case. Taking the wrong approach can even have a detrimental impact.
Whilst every case is different, there may be potential opportunities across the life of the case to resolve the complaint or even close the case. When a case is unable to be resolved without a hearing, the slow-moving nature of the NMC processes can often be put to good use.
That is why getting specialist advice at the earliest opportunity can be so important whatever the stage of the case. The sooner advice is obtained, the sooner it can be acted upon.
Common Situations
- You receive notice of an NMC investigation
- You are referred to the NMC by an employer or other third party
- You are considering self-referring to the NMC
- Evidence is served on you by the NMC
- You are asked by the NMC to provide a response
- You are asked to attend an NMC hearing
- You are notified of an interim order hearing
How I Support Nurses & Midwives
Every case is different. My approach is informed by extensive experience of NMC proceedings (including as a former Head of Investigations at the NMC). My focus is on protecting your registration, using my extensive experience to guide you through each stage with straight forward advice to obtain the best possible outcome for you.
What I Do
- Review the NMC documents, provide clarity and advise on options
- Advise on written responses
- Prepare written responses
- Advise on the approach and preparatory steps required
- Representation at hearings
Why Choose Me?
- Specialist barrister with extensive NMC experience
- Affordable specialist advice and representation
- Former nurse & former NMC Head of Investigations
- All fees fixed in advance
- Direct access barrister – a service which can reduce overall legal fees
- Speak directly to me, not multiple individuals
- Support for nurses and midwives across the UK
If you are facing NMC proceedings contact me directly today for affordable specialist legal advice and representation.
To find out more, get in touch today and book your Free Consultation. Get a barrister beside you.
Frequently Asked Questions About NMC Investigations
What is an NMC investigation?
An NMC investigation looks into concerns about a nurse or midwife’s fitness to practise. Concerns can be in respect of conduct, competence, a conviction or health. There are potentially a number of separate stages to an NMC investigation beginning with initial notification of the concerns raised, the NMC gathering evidence and preparation of a report and consideration of the case by the Case Examiners. The case may then be closed or referred for a hearing.
Specialist legal advice will often be of assistance at the early stages of an investigation, and when the NMC invite a response from a nurse or midwife. Specialist advice and representation can also be particularly important where a case is referred for a hearing.
Do I need a lawyer for an NMC fitness to practise hearing?
Whilst you do not need to be legally represented, obtaining legal advice and representation is strongly recommended. Hearing outcomes can potentially have a significant impact on a nurse’s personal reputation as well as their ability to practise.
Obtaining specialist legal advice can help ensure that your case is being dealt with fairly, it can assist you in obtaining a clear understanding of your situation, determining your approach to the concerns raised, and representation at the hearing can ensure that your case is clearly presented to the FTP Panel and that the NMC case where disagreed with can be effectively challenged.
What happens at an NMC fitness to practise hearing?
The sequence of events at a fitness to practise hearing will often be determined by a nurse’s position on the allegations and the NMC’s evidence. If there are preliminary issues to be resolved, these will often be dealt with first.
Following this, there are potentially three separate stages to a hearing: the facts stage (where witnesses are most often called to give evidence); the impairment stage; and the sanction stage.
Obtaining specialist legal advice and representation in respect of each of these stages can be of particular importance and can assist a nurse determine their position and approach at each stage. The manner in which a nurse approaches the NMC case will often be a key determinant of the outcome of the hearing.
How long does an NMC investigation take?
Unless a case is closed at the screening stage, an investigation will often take many months or even longer to conclude. The length of the investigation is likely to be influenced by a number of factors such as the complexity of the case, the number of concerns raised, the number of witnesses that need to be engaged by the NMC, and the level of co-operation that the NMC receive in obtaining disclosure of relevant documentation and engaging witnesses.
Where a case is not concluded at the Case Examiner stage and is instead referred for a hearing, there can be further delays whilst the case is prepared and listed for hearing.
Can I keep working during an NMC investigation?
A nurse can usually continue working without restriction unless an interim order is imposed that restricts or suspends practice. In some cases, restrictive measures known as undertakings can be agreed with a nurse at the Case Examiner stage.
What is an interim order hearing?
This is a hearing to decide whether a nurse can continue working without restriction or at all while their case is being investigated. The NMC risk assess each referral. Where the NMC consider that there is a risk of harm to the public or a risk to the reputation of the profession, a case may be referred to an interim order hearing.
At the hearing a panel will determine whether an interim order should be imposed and if so, the form of that interim order. Where imposed, an interim order will be subject to a review at subsequent hearings. The interim order proceedings take place in parallel with the main NMC investigation.
Getting specialist legal advice and representation in relation to interim order proceedings can enable a registrant to better understand their position and determine the approach they wish to take at the interim order hearing. Getting specialist representation will also mean that a registrant has someone to speak on their behalf at the hearing and to set out their position to the panel.
Will my employer be informed?
Employers are often contacted by the NMC once a referral has been received as well as later during the life of the investigation. Nurses and midwives are also under an obligation to inform those with whom they have an arrangement to provide services if their practice has been restricted by the NMC or if they have been disciplined by any regulatory body.
A nurse or midwife should ensure they are fully aware of their obligations within ‘the Code’ as well as any other obligations they may have. There are often additional obligations upon a registrant to inform an employer or prospective employer where fitness to practise concerns have been raised.
Failing to inform others when there is an obligation to do so can place a nurse or midwife at risk of additional serious allegations being raised. Specialist legal advice can help provide clarity in relation to this.
My Experience & Professional Background
As a former senior lawyer at the NMC, a former head of investigations at the NMC and former registered nurse, with experience of 100’s of NMC hearings, I have perhaps unparalleled insight into the difficulties a nurse can face as well as an excellent understanding of how your regulator is likely to view your case. That experience is distilled into the advice that I provide each client that instructs me. I work directly with nurses and midwives who are facing fitness to practise concerns. As a direct access barrister, you can instruct me without going through a solicitor, which can help reduce overall legal fees while ensuring that you receive specialist legal advice and representation.
My focus is on protecting your registration, using my extensive experience to guide you through each stage with straight forward advice to obtain the best possible outcome for you.
What to Expect When You Contact Me
A clear 3-stage Process
- Contact me directly today
- Free initial consultation is scheduled
- A no obligation fixed fee quote is provided to you
Legal Areas Covered
Areas of Law
- Regulatory law for healthcare professionals
- Hearing representation for healthcare professionals
- Professional discipline defence
- FTP rules and procedures
- Fitness to practise law
If you are facing NMC proceedings contact me directly today for affordable specialist legal advice and representation.
To find out more, get in touch today and book your Free Consultation. Get a barrister beside you.
NMC Defence for Nurses & Midwives Across The UK
Even if you don’t see your area listed, please reach out, I will be happy to assist you!