Attending hearings / Schedule
»Can I attend a hearing?
»What types of hearings are there?
»Where are they held?
»How far in advance are hearings scheduled?
»Do you publish a list of hearings coming up?
»Is there a distribution list I can be added to in order to receive a list of hearings in my area?
»Do you publish a list of hearings coming up?
About hearings
»Why is there no information about hearings that happened more than three months ago on the website?
»Can I get a full list of the charges in advance of the hearing?
»How many days do hearings normally last?
»Does the nurse/midwife normally attend? Are they usually represented?
»Can I interview the nurse/midwife?
»Can I interview the panel Chair?
»Can I interview the witnesses?
»Are cameras permitted in the hearing?
»Do you give out the full address of the nurse or midwife?
»Can you tell me where the person was working at the time of the allegations?
»What standard of proof do you use?
»How many cases do you hear a week?
»How many allegations do you receive each year?
Decisions
»Does the panel issue a sanction right away once the hearing concludes?
»How long does it take to investigate allegations of misconduct?
»Are there instances where a person is sanctioned automatically without going through a hearing?
»Why do the reasons appear to have two sanctions?
»Is there an appeals process?
»What kinds of sanctions can you issue?
Can I attend a hearing?
Members of the professions and the public are welcome to attend FtP hearings, but seating is usually limited to 20 observers per hearing. Please note that in our London offices seating is limited to five observers per hearing. Hearings usually start at 9.30am on the first day and 9.00am on any subsequent days. See Observe an FTP hearing for more information.
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What types of hearings are there?
There are Professional Conduct Committee (PCC – Pre 2004), Conduct and Competence Committee (CCC – Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001) and Health Committee hearings. For reasons of confidentiality, Health Committee hearings are closed to the public.
On 1 August 2004, the NMC started using a new set of rules for dealing with fitness to practise cases. If a case was reported before that date, we use our 1993 Professional Conduct Rules. If a case was reported after that date, the NMC uses the new 2004 Fitness to Practise Rules.
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Where are they held?
The majority of hearings are held in London however there are occasions when hearings are held in other parts of the United Kingdom. See NMC hearing venues.
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How far in advance are hearings scheduled?
Hearings are scheduled up to a month in advance but the details are only published the week before.
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Do you publish a list of hearings coming up?
Yes. See Observe an FTP hearing for schedules.
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Is there a distribution list I can be added to in order to receive a list of hearings in my area?
Yes. You can do this by contacting the press team communications@nmc-uk.org
Do you publish the results of hearings?
Yes. See FTP hearings and decisions.
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Does the panel issue a sanction right away once the hearing concludes?
Yes. Article 22(9) of the Nursing and Midwifery Order (NMC Order 2001) states 'The Council shall publish as soon as reasonably practicable particulars of any orders and decisions made by a Practice Committee under article 26(7) or (11), 29(5), 30(1), (2), (4), (6), (7) or (8) or 33 and of its reasons for them and of any decision given on appeal'.
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Why is there no information about hearings that happened more than three months ago on the website?
Decisions published on the NMC internet are no more than four months old because after three months, orders may be changed by another panel's decision. All previous decisions and reasons are available on request from FtP.
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Can I get a full list of the charges in advance of the hearing?
No. The charges are only available on the day of the hearing, after the hearing has started. These are never published on the website but are available on request by contacting the press team 0207 462 5884/5874.
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How many days do hearings normally last?
It depends on the complexity of the case. Hearings can last from one day to a week or longer if required. There is always the possibility that a hearing may be adjoured at any point during the proceedings. It would then have to be scheduled to resume on a later date. The press team keep a list of journalists who are interested in specific ongoing hearings. You can have your details added to the list by contacting the press team on 0207 462 5884/5874.
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Does the nurse or midwife normally attend? Are they usually represented?
This varies from case to case. They have the right to attend and to be represented if they so wish. We do not currently collect data on the number of hearings where the individual is present or represented.
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Can I interview the nurse or midwife?
In most cases the nurse or midwife will not wish to be interviewed, however any request must be made via their legal representative if they have one.
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Can I interview the panel Chair?
No. Like judges in criminal cases, the panel Chair will not speak to the press. However, you are able to quote them from the reasons or anything they have said during the hearing if you are present.
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Can I interview the witnesses?
If witnesses choose to waive their right to anonymity then it may be possible. In most cases the request should be made via the legal representative.
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Are cameras permitted in the hearing?
No. Cameras are only permitted outside the building where the hearing is being held.
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Do you give out the full address of the nurse or midwife?
No. We only provide the town or city they are resident in. In some cases, if they are resident in a very small town, we only provide the region in order to protect them from possible harassment. For futher information please see: Notes on the NMC publishing names and addresses of registrants.
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Can you tell me where the person was working at the time of the allegations?
This information is only available if it comes out during the hearing. There are some instances where the allegations of misconduct are unrelated to the individual’s place of work and therefore this information is not pertinent to the hearing and would not be mentioned.
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What standard of proof do you use?
We use the civil standard of proof in line with the Health and Social Care Bill which states that the civil standard of proof should be the common standard for all healthcare regulators and the requirement for all healthcare regulators. Prior to 3 November 2008 we used the criminal standard of proof. Find out more - Using the civil standard of proof
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How many cases do you hear a week?
This can vary from week to week as some cases require several days to be heard. On average we schedule between 10 -12 hearings per week. In 2006/2007 we held a total of 279 hearings.
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How many allegations do you receive each year?
We receive over 1,000 potential new cases each year. These are initial complaints that have come to the NMC and represent just 0.1% of the total register. For the latest figures and more detailed information, see FtP annual reports.
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How long does it take to investigate allegations of misconduct?
This depends entirely on the complexity of the case.
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Are there instances where a person is sanctioned automatically without going through a hearing?
No. We are bound by the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 to investigate all allegations of misconduct received in the proper format.
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Why do the reasons appear to have two sanctions?
In order to cover the 28 day appeal period, an interim Suspension Order is regularly issued to ensure the public remain protected should there be an appeal.
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Is there an appeals process?
Yes. Individuals have 28 days to appeal the results of the hearing.
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What kinds of sanctions can you issue?
See Sanctions and disposal options
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First created: 04/04/2008
Last modified: 23/06/2009