QNI Responds to NMC Consultation Launch Announcement

The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) is disappointed to hear today’s announcement by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) that it will proceed to public consultation on the review of Specialist Practitioner Standards for post-registration education and practice on 8 April 2021.

We are confused that the NMC has stated that there is a commitment to bespoke (or specific) standards of proficiency while also stating that regulatory standards are only drafted at high level. Hence it will be the responsibility of each University to develop specific standards of proficiency for their own SPQ programmes.

The QNI is concerned that the NMC review of standards for Community Specialist Practitioner Qualifications has not yet taken into account the feedback from educationalists and other stakeholders received during the past year. Ten organisations and groups, including the QNI, QNI Scotland, the Community Nurse Executive Network (CNEN) and the Royal College of Nursing recently requested a delay on the basis that the nursing workforce is fatigued, and meaningful engagement is unlikely be achieved at this time.

There are more people with Covid-19 now being provided with nursing care in the community and primary care than there were in the first wave of the pandemic in 2020, and the mass vaccination programme will be in operation throughout the whole period of the consultation. In addition, Government sources have expressed concern in recent days that the new wave of Covid-19 infections now affecting much of the European continent could soon impact directly on the UK.

However, as a solution focussed organisation, the QNI will do everything it can to mobilise and support an exhausted and dispirited nursing workforce, working in every part of the community, primary care and social care sectors to respond to the public consultation. In that way, we will help the NMC in their aspiration to finalise the standards within the timeline they have set.

ENDS 

Notes:

The NMC Review: https://www.nmc.org.uk/education/programme-of-change-for-education/reviewing-our-post-registration-standards/

Media Enquiries:

Matthew Bradby, Head of Communications matthew.bradby@qni.org.uk