David Munday

This week I’m attending #CPHVA25 in Bristol. This afternoon is the Unite/CPHVA AGM.

There was only one other observer questions yesterday on the potential cost implications of appointing legally qualified chairs. #NMCCouncil.

...4. The answer for those interested: @newsnmc.bsky.social fee in 2012 was £76/yr. This went up to £100/yr in 20213 and £120/yr in 2015. If the fee had gone up inline with inflation since 2012 it would have been £110.25/yr in 2025 (according to the Bank of England inflation calculator) #NMCCouncil.

4. This question was side stepped. Interestingly an #NMCCouncil member spoke to me after & argued that it was irrelevant what the fee was before 2015. I do disagree especially in light of the repeated argument from @newsnmc.bsky.social that it would be £166 today if it had gone up with inflation...

3. On historical reviews it was argued that they got value for money and updates will be given to #NMCCouncil. Lots of people have been waiting for their publication and so they needed to act to get the delayed reports completed and published.

...2. He highlighted how the scope of work had increased including with the nursing associate role making their work more complex. If the fee remained the same the financial gap would increase from £22m this year to £24m next. Other organisations have put up fees 'including your union'. #NMCCouncil

2. CEO acknowledged how difficult the current situation is for @newsnmc.bsky.social employees and how no leader wants to join an organisation and have to decide to reduce 10% of roles... #NMCCouncil

1: They stated that to be able to have a public meeting they needed to do something at this time as it was only way to fit in with the parliamentary timetable & the sequencing of things they need to do. I personally think this wouldn't have precluded doing this in Edinburgh last month. #NMCCouncil

So here's the comment I made & questions I asked at yesterdays #NMCCouncil. First I expressed my solidarity to @newsnmc.bsky.social employees who are currently fearful about their jobs. I also extended this solidarity to the @unison.org.uk branch as they're the recognised trade union at the NMC.

Today’s #NMCCouncil meeting finished with questions from observers. I asked 4. I’ll share these, the responses and my thoughts later as I’m into my afternoon meeting now.

Now Westcott talks about the two recent independent reviews that have been published since the last #NMCCouncil meeting. You can read about that, and the reports, here: www.nmc.org.uk/news/news-an...

The #NMCCouncil have agreed to the consultation on FtP rule changes.

A fair bit of time is being spent to discuss the proposed changes to have legally qualified chairs in their fitness to practise processes rather than having these as separate advisors. #NMCCouncil

Maybe because there was much more detail in the paper, the debate is much more in depth with this issue versus the fee rise consultation or maybe it’s the fait accompli nature of the fee rise? #NMCCouncil

One of the things that I thought interesting: We couldn’t see details of the fee rise consultation as that would pre-empt #NMCCouncil decision but on FtP changes the paper is much more detailed as to what’s being proposed. @newsnmc.bsky.social

We’re now onto the second ‘big’ issue today. @newsnmc.bsky.social wish to start a consultation on proposed Fitness to Practise rule changes. You can see the content of those proposals in today’s @newsnmc.bsky.social #NMCCouncil papers: www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets...

And with exceptionally little fanfare, or #NMCCouncil members questioning, the Council agree to start the fee rise consultation.

Questions so far have included about how the consultation will ensure feedback from all UK nations and why no tiered fee for type of registration/income level. There’s also a comment about regulatory reform would hopefully reduce the need for parliamentary approval in future. #NMCCouncil

CEO @newsnmc.bsky.social, Paul Rees introduced the item on consultation on fee rise and then passed to Emma Westcott to speak on the substantive issue. That includes highlighting that the consultation hasn’t been published yet as that would pre-judge the decision the #NMCCouncil is taking today.

The desire from the @newsnmc.bsky.social for a fee rise is on the back of news that they’re also planning to cut NMC staff numbers by over 10% www.nmc.org.uk/news/news-an... #NMCCouncil

There’s a press release about this from the @newsnmc.bsky.social here: www.nmc.org.uk/news/news-an... #NMCCouncil

You can see the papers for today’s meeting here: www.nmc.org.uk/about-us/gov... #NMCCouncil

This afternoon I’m at the extraordinary @newsnmc.bsky.social #NMCCouncil meeting. It has two main agenda items including the request to Council for the NMC to start a consultation on a fee rise for its registrants.

I also thought about this question but agreed in advance that a fellow TU colleague would lead on this issue. #NMCCouncil

We’re now on questions from observers. Here’s my comment and question. It was frustrating that we didn’t get the commitment from the CEO to pause the pilot. It may well be that the new approach could be beneficial, we are however concerned that we haven’t had the opportunity to discuss. #NMCCouncil

And the #NMCCouncil are now considering the Culture Transformation Plan / Independent Culture Review: Maturity Model. Charlotte Eimer is taking Council members through the model.

We’re back to hearing from Tom Moore as he talks through the Annual Health and Safety Report and then Jacqueline Maunder speaks to the Finance and Resources Committee: Terms of
Reference. Progress has been speedy and we’re now only 14mins behind on the agenda. #NMCCouncil

We’re now onto NMC Strategy 2025-2027. Emma Westcott intriduces this, highlighting that this will focus on doing a few things very well rather than have a longer list. Here it is on a page. #NMCCouncil

We’ve gone on to the Safeguarding Board Quarterly Report, delivered by Donna O’Boyle. We’re about 70mins behind with the agenda now. #NMCCouncil

Paul Johnson takes over to highlight some of data on FtP. There’s lots but this is probably one I find most helpful to keep an eye on. He also talks about a pilot they’ve been doing on health cases, including cases being resolved in 12wk rather than >50wk for those outside of the pilot. #NMCCouncil