Health Minister (Karin ): Nurses play a critical role in our
healthcare system, and this government recognises the vital role
nurses play in delivering safe, effective, and compassionate
care. Today, we are proposing to protect the title ‘nurse' in law
to ensure that only those registered with the Nursing and
Midwifery Council can use it, with limited exceptions.
The protection in law of certain professional titles is important
for public safety. Protected titles are used by healthcare
professionals to indicate their field of practice to patients and
the public, providing assurance to the public that the person
using that title is competent and safe to practise.
Currently, the title ‘registered nurse' is protected in law.
However, the Government is aware of concerns, most recently
raised by MP and the #ProtectNurse
campaign, that this is not sufficient to safeguard the public, as
it does not address the misuse of the title ‘nurse' by
unregulated professionals.
This Government intends to amend the criminal offence of ‘misuse
of professional titles' so that the title of ‘nurse' is
protected. This amendment will be made as part of the
Government's professional regulation reform programme, which will
modernise the legislative frameworks for the General Medical
Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Health and
Care Professional Council during this Parliament.
As part of reforms to the Nursing and Midwifery Council's
legislative framework, we will create a new protection of title
offence, making it a criminal offence for an individual who is
not a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council to
call themselves a nurse.
The Government is aware that the term ‘nurse' is used across
multiple professions, for example, ‘dental nurse', ‘veterinary
nurse' and ‘nursery nurse'. It is not our intention to prevent
the legitimate use of the title ‘nurse' within these instances.
The legislation will therefore include exemptions to allow other
professionals to use the title legitimately, without the risk of
prosecution.
The Government will continue to work with key stakeholders,
including the Nursing and Midwifery Council, devolved
governments, the Royal College of Nursing, trade unions, other
professional representatives and the social care sector, on
developing the protection of title offence.
This proposal demonstrates the Government's respect for the
nursing profession, dedication to patient safety and the pivotal
role nurses have in our society.
