Nurses Watchdog's Decade-Long Vetting Failure Exposed

A significant failure in vetting processes by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has been uncovered, impacting patient safety and public trust. For up to 12 years, at least 15 nurses with criminal convictions that warranted striking off were permitted to remain on the register and practice. This "astounding failure" was revealed after a staff whistleblower raised concerns in February, initiating a review of 18,060 applications over a 12-year period.

The review found that 421 cases required reassessment, with 15 professionals possessing convictions so severe they should have been banned from patient contact. These individuals will now face fitness to practice hearings, with strike-offs recommended. The Royal College of Nursing has sharply criticized the NMC, calling it the "latest in a catalogue of failings" that questions its suitability as a regulator.

This incident follows previous investigations in 2024 that exposed a "toxic" culture within the NMC, leading to leadership overhauls and an independent inquiry. The regulator admitted in 2025 to failing to sanction serial killer Lucy Letby and, last year, a rapist nurse was left practicing for a year without notification. The NMC's chief executive has apologized for the "completely and utterly unacceptable" failure in assessing health and character declarations.

Paul Rees MBE, the chief executive, stated the organization is under new leadership determined to enact change over the next three years. He emphasized that ongoing measures are uncovering historical problems, including the discovery of this vetting lapse. The NMC has also reported sacking 18 individuals for bullying or racism in the past 20 months as part of its cultural improvement program.