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

Were you in hospital then if you were so unwell as to be confused and disoriented? Would it have been a nurse that would have prescribed?

Just noticed this it is the nurses fault for lying about what I said, (I was able to prove this to the ICO because I recorded the consultation. At which point of contact with her did you go in prepped to record a conversation/appointment? From the info here you've only had a couple of appointments, so to go in and record your appointment - I'm assuming you did not tell her you were doing so?- is there a previous issue?

I am not a nurse, nurses are not the only people who are subject to fittness to practise.

I attended an occupational health appointment at my trust. My trust wrote to the team treating me to gain further information.
My doctor then shared my medical history with occupational health.

Consent is usually required but if there are significant concerns about patient safety it is not required. If a doctor thinks that their patient who is also a health care professional has been charged with with harassment...they do not need the patients consent to share that information.

OP, in relation to your original question about the stages of the process. You have been referred to the NMC in the past and now as a patient you referred a nurse to the NMC. That you are unclear about the stages of this (harrowing) investigation is perhaps due to the lack of information provided by the NMC to the public & their nurses involved in investigations. The NMC seems to have the unrealistic expectation that all involved in a fitness to practice case will (be able to) search their website for the link I provided earlier to the 'four stages of our screening decision'.

Perhaps the NMC should have the common decency to email the referrer & the referred with links to this information, or mail hard copies to all involved. Have you fed this back to them, you are in a strong position to do this given your history on both sides of the process

OP, I read your latest post after I posted. My apologies, I too have misunderstood your posts, I thought you had also been referred to the NMC in the past.

Regardless, the NMC have obviously not provided you with information about the process?

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

Yes, & the nurse will have been informed who made the referral as they need this information to answer any allegation/s

The NMC case managers do phone and speak to referrers. They also email them and explain their role and the stages.

@bakebeans

I work at Town Hospital, but live in Village.

Because I live in Village, my local hospital is Village NHS Trust.
When I first moved to Village my GP refereed me to Village Endocrinolgy out patients.
When I was admitted to Village Hospital as an emergency ...Village Hospitals records were wrong, hence drug error.
Village Hospital in my local hospital so I have ongoing care with endocrinology...but also use their services in emergencies

Then when Town Hospital Occupational Health contacted village hospital endocrinology...they heard I was charged with harassment and were very concerned.

@CherryPavlova – The NMC case managers do phone and speak to referrers. They also email them and explain their role and the stages

Unfortunately, the NMCs responsibility in providing information about the fitness to practice process does not extend to those referred. I appreciate that this diverges from the OPs focus, however, it is important. I do not see that there is any conflict between the organisation upholding its role in protecting the public while providing similar information about the stages to the HCPs against whom allegation have been made.

Good luck OP, I hope you get some answers & resolution to your complaints

Rosebud21. I thought the NMC did have to make clear process to those referred too. I’ve never been that side of a hearing so wouldn’t know for certain. I do know how hard it must be for a nurse who is referred even though possibly innocent of the allegations.

Colleagues have been referred, neither investigated past stage one. They received
notification from their manager, "as a courtesy", after their managers were informed by the NMC, & a letter at a later date from the NMC stating that an allegation had been made & that this would be investigated, other than that very little information was provided. They were expected to access this from the NMC website!

Rosebud21 I’ve also known nurses be hung out to dry and doctors get off much more lightly around the same situation. GMC is much more tolerant and supportive of doctors than NMC is of nurses mistakes.
I would always advise nurses to take out professional indemnity as union and RCN legal support is quite challenging to access.

GMC is much more tolerant and supportive of doctors than NMC is of nurses mistakes.

This is so true CherryPavlova. Also, doctors support each other, nurses shit all over their colleagues.

Can you phone the hospital and ask to see another nurse ? Or get referred to a completely different hospital ?

It's not in either parties interest to see each other so hopefully the nurse knows your appointment is due and steps have been taken by her manager that she doesnt treat you.

I went to my appointment. The nurse was not at my appointment.

It looks like the NMC does not communicate very much during the initial stages. People like me who complain to the NMC dont hear alot, and neither do the nurses refered to them.

I know updates cost..in time and staffing levels...but surely once a nurse is refered they should get a case worker once they hear an allegation has been made. Knowing an allegation has been made..and a initial investigation process that drags on for months is stressfull enough without the silence from the NMC.

Yes, I imagine it's a difficult time for everyone concerned . Maybe they have to go through the allegation first to decide if they need to investigate it further.

I know updates cost..in time and staffing levels...but surely once a nurse is refered they should get a case worker once they hear an allegation has been made. Knowing an allegation has been made..and a initial investigation process that drags on for months is stressfull enough without the silence from the NMC.

You’re making the understandable mistake in thinking that the NMC cares about it’s nurses. It doesn’t.