To want to want to know the NMC investigation stages

[Sunshineglitterandbubbles]

AIBU to wish the NMC website contained more information than it does.

Unfortunately I had to report a nurse to the NMC. The NMC asked for evidence 5 weeks ago, I supplied this. Then they arranged an appointment with one of their doctors, this is scheduled for 2 weeks time. Yesterday they sent a consent for to access all my medical records.

Last night I realised I have an appointment and that nurse will probably me there.

Do you think at this stage the NMC might have told them an allegation has been made?

I know it is probably a bit unreasonable to expect a website to explain everything

I'm not sure a case like this should be discussed on a public forum ? The details are quite specific. What if the nurse concerned is on MN and reads this ? Aren't there rules against posting this kind of stuff whilst an investigation is ongoing?

Also, I'd tick you as black carribean also

Sorry, what? No you bloody wouldn't. You don't decide someone's race for them.

So this one nurse did all these things? Identified you are allergic to a certain drug, how was this identified- did you have anaphylaxis in her presence and she then refused to note this, or purposefully noted the wrong drug? What would she gain from this?

www.nmc.org.uk/concerns-nurses-midwives/concerns-complaints-and-referrals/member-public-referral/

My theory is that at the point of referral something went seriously wrong...and maybe she was dealing with two similar patients, or something

I can not see why a nurse would do all of the following(examples not actual mistakes)
Allergy thing- Recorded allergic to penicillin instead of allergic to asprin
I was charged by the police with harassment
I don't have epilepsy (Its an oddly specific thing to write)

I don't think it was malicious or intended at that point. It was just a massive chunk of stuff that was incorrect.

The problems started when I complained about the errors and asked for them to be corrected.

The ico haven't proven the records are false, that makes zero sense.

I complained to the ICO about the errors in my medical records, they looked at the evidence, and upheld my complaint, asking the TRust to sort it out.

Why were you charged with harassment? The police don't charge people for no reason.

It sounds a bit complicated but hopefully it will all get sorted out quickly, are your records up to date now? is your allergy noted in your notes and your gp records, maybe the prescriber could have got in touch with the gp to see if you had any allergies if you weren't able to speak at the time. Are patients allowed to write a letter themselves about their allergies, ethnicity and anything else they don't agree with which they can have put into their medical notes. No idea how long the nmc take to come to any decisions but if you feel uncomfortable with the nurse looking after you then can you speak to their manager and request another nurse.

if you feel uncomfortable with the nurse looking after you then can you speak to their manager and request another nurse.

I sincerely hope that this situation wouldn’t arise. As unfair as it would be for the patient, any nurse manager who expected a nurse to continue to care for their complainant would be utterly unreasonable and failing in their duty of care.

Wow seems a bit OTT really @Sunshineglitterandbubbles

I do not think The NMC will do anything about this. Your records cannot be altered or changed but any additional information can be added.

And as for adding your race down incorrectly? They have to put down the closest to the one on the document.

The nurse has the right not to amend anything if she did not document the original post to begin wit is signing her name next to it.

Its not the nurses fault, your clearly out to cause trouble

And as for recording the consultation, i will guarantee you did not ask consent of the trust or the staff to do it.?

There's a two in three chance that the nurse will leave nursing now.

Nurses who find themselves hauled in front of the NMC either have a nervous breakdown, cope and remain within the profession or decide to quit and have to do something else. Nurses live with this constant sword of damacles hanging over them and reporting them should not be taken lightly or used as a revenge tactic.

And, chances are she was advised not to amend the details or whatever it is you seem to want her to do.

Charged with harassment against who?

How did the nurse ruin your career?

I doubt the nurse will go anywhere near you now.
The other HCPs will be wary.

Did you do this because you wanted some sort of revenge and to make this nurse suffer?

You have said she did not act out of malice. It doesn’t sound like she is a risk to her patients from what you have described. What you have done by taking this to the NMC will have a significant effect on her personal and professional life.

Sounds a bit OTT and as though you have a personal vendetta against a nurse.
Inaccurate information (although very annoying for you) is totally different to ‘falsifying records.’
I don’t think this is something for the NMC to be honest.

Totally agree with pottedshrimps.

Woah, you're getting way too much stick on here op. I'd have done exactly the same as you, and no way someone else gets to decide my race! Nurses do a very difficult job under difficult circumstances, however, they are human and make mistakes. Just like any work place some people are lovely and competent, some not so much. You have been through the process and are absolutely right to escalate to get your records amended.

I'd be wary of sharing too much information here if there is an ongoing investigation. Best ask for it to be taken down.

Reporting a nurse to the NMC should never be done lightly. The NMC are well known for being slow and can take 2-3 years to conduct investigations and hearings. During this time the nurse will be well aware of the accusations and will have to live for several years with this hanging over her head. What you describe in your posts does not appear to warrant a referral and you have likely driven yet another nurse to leave the profession as most do if they are reported as the mental stress of the long wait isn't worth it and they can build a whole other career by the time the NMC have finished. You very much sound like you have a vendetta against this one person.

Answering your question OP, the investigation time differs per fitness to practice case. Which stage is your referral? www.nmc.org.uk/ftp-library/screening/the-four-stages-of-our-screening-decision/stage-one-concerns-that-are-serious-enough-to-affect-fitness-to-practise/

There is timeline information on the NMC website www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/ftp_information/ftp-process-flowchart.pdf.

Who is your liaison person at the NMC? Perhaps call and ask them for an update on Tuesday

Usually you can call and ask the NMC.
I think she probably will know - she would probably arrange for a different nurse to do your appt. It would be better for you to complain to the actual place too, or at least tell them - the NMC don’t intervene in your appointment schedule etc. Just go along on Tuesday and tell reception.

As I understand, the OP hasn't been charged with harassment in any way but the nurse stated on her records she has been. The nurse also specifically stated that OP is not epileptic even though OP is (and has other medical documents proving this). Said nurse made a mistake, at best, regarding the allergy but this can be fatal as I'm sure all of you who are nurses here know... that in itself needs to be investigated, never mind the racial side of this which is completely out of order for anybody working in healthcare. Nobody can decide another person's race for them especially when they have been told by the person in question how they wish to be identified!

OP I hope she isn't at your appointment and you get some info soon. Telling the OP that the nurse may leave the profession when there are already too few nurses is all well and good, but maybe that would be the best outcome in this situation, if an investigation finds that this is all true. I would rather have a shortage of nurses than have somebody treating me who is making potentially fatal mistakes (again, at best a mistake), and endangering patients by falsifying info.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

I was never charged with harassment. The nurse just documented that I was. I dont know why they did...when I proved I was not the Trust should have done something to sort it out.

I think lying in medical records about appointments, care given, and what I did does count as falsifying records.

The NMC can decide what matters to them.They have clearly decided it is worth further investigation.

I dont want her to suffer like I said mistakes happen..She had a chance to do the right thing. The nurse refused.
If there was no malice and sure is purely goid intentions and care..why did she argue with me about my race, or refuse to correct errors? Why didn't she just correct the allergy information?

I cant get my job back until my medical records are accurate. I also work in health care and went through a 2 year long fittness to practise investigation due to her saying I was charged with harassment. I think inacurate records that lead to a suspension and fittness to practise investigation and anaphalaxis are alot more than inconvinent!

It's not fair to me to have untrue things in my health records. The NHS organisation said they can't do more than asking the nurse. They said if I am unhappy with the nurse I can take it to the NMC.

If the nurse was advised not to amend the records..who ever advised her should have also
A- told her that accurate records are a legal requirement
B- inacurate records can cause harm
C- patients can report to the NMC.

The NMC will investigate and decide if they want to take it further. They know what standards are expected, and most people are probably not qualified enough to determine what cases they should or should not investigate.

went through a 2 year long fittness to practise investigation due to her saying I was charged with harassment.. Why? As you say it didn't happen? Surely your own HR would be able to see quite quickly this wasnt true as there would be no records/evidence?