Anyone with NMC Fitness2Practice experience?

[InNeedofAdvice12345]

I am a member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

I have been referred to NMC by my former employer over a number of Allegations.

It looks like from the NMC letter I received last month, over half of the Allegations submitted by my former employer were dismissed by the NMC during the screening stage.

Less than half have been passed to the NMC investigating team. NMC said they are going to investigate what NMC is confusingly calling either Concerns or Issues (two words seem to be used interchangeably).

I asked for the NMC to match the current Concerns/Issues to specific patients.

However, it has been some weeks now and this information is not forthcoming.

I am expected to work on reflections. However, how can I write detailed reflections if I do not know for certain which patient care I am writing about?

In my mind, I should know which patients Concerns/Issues NMC is still investigating.

Am I correct in thinking so?

Anyone has been through this before? I can't afford legal help and I have no union cover.

All advice would be much appreciated.

No experience from your side of it but there is some helpful info on rcn website.

Sorry you're having to deal with it.

https://www.rcn.org.uk/Get-Help/RCN-advice/nmc-fitness-to-practise-concerns

Thank you so much for the link

Thank you so much again. It has answered one of my questions

You're welcome! Sorry to not be able to answer them all x

Hi OP, look up NMCWatch. I have never been through the process, but they are an absolute kangaroo court. Wishing you all the best.

Are you in a union? This is the time when all those monthly subs you resented paying are worth their weight in gold. The union will be able to support you throughout.
Are you working? Does your current employer know?

Other than working in the NHS, I thought all nurses needed to be in a union? Where you with one when the allegations occurred? Who asked you to write reflections? I agree that it would be impossible to do unless you had a clue about what you did wrong.
Sorry I'm no help, but a bump to someone that might know.

I've done professional discipline work in the past although I don't do it any more. Who has asked you to do the reflection? Also, you can find out who your named case officer is either on the NMC letter or by phoning them up and asking.

I dont know if they name patients, it's usually Patient A, B etc, would your employer have named the patients or given out their hospital numbers that would need cross referencing and checking. Maybe they cite incidents rather than patients names., have you been invited to a meeting, who states you need reflection.

Did you have any meeting or disciplinary with your previous employer, were you made aware they were referring you to the nmc, it's would be strange that at no point you were made aware of any complaint against you.

Thank you very much to everyone who has replied.

No, unforturtuanately, I wasn't in the union at the time. Big mistake. No union will take a pre-existing issue.

Yes, I aware of NMC Watch. They strongly recommend getting legal representation. They have a very good video explaining why this is necessary

Here is another link why legal help is a really good idea

https://www.kingsviewchambers.com/high-court-ruling-highlights-risks-of-facing-fitness-to-practise-hearings-alone/

Here is a short video explaining what a regulatory lawyer would do

And a few more longer videos on explaining the process

Here is the link to to an interview with the Head of NMC responding to a highly critical report of NMC work culture.

I have just instucted a specialist solicitor to help me with my case. This is going to cost me thousands of pounds, however my career is worth more. Wish I had joined a union as soon as I starting working.

I feel I am in safe hands now. I am posting in case it might be useful to someone else.

Thanks again to everyone who replied.

Nurses don’t have to be in a union

They do however have to be registered (and pay) the NMC

Any legal cover with your home insurance?

Unfortunately, no, I have checked