In January this year Kat El Karout took the Nursing and Midwifery Council to the High Court to appeal against the Strike Off order they imposed on her - effectively ending her midwifery career of over 20years. Following a poor local trust investigation she had been subject to criminal charges of medication theft nearly 4 years ago and was acquitted of all charges in the courts.

She was then subject to a Fitness to Practice Hearing and although legally represented by the Royal College of Midwives, her representation was ill prepared and the Strike Off followed. As a single mum of 3 young boys this has devastated her life, not only by taking her away from the career she is passionate about - advocating for women and babies - but financially crippling her and causing PTSD and associated psychological trauma.

She has maintained her professionalism and kept her stance re her innocence - self litigating at the High Court against the appeal and getting all charges quashed. The judge was highly critical of both the local trust investigation which led to this situation but also of the NMC proceedings that followed. Despite this the NMC are now subjecting her to a full 7 day hearing in June to rehear some of the charges

There is no new evidence

There is no patient or public risk

There is no public interest

NMCWatch and The Midwives Haven have been supporting her the best we can. We have individuals who have provided prob bono support to get her this far. The NMC have unlimited finances to pay for lawyers to fight their side of the case and pay expenses for witnesses to attend, stay in London accommodation to do so if required and even have a daily meal allowances. Kat has nothing.

We have asked the NMC to reconsider pursuing this case again due to the inability of ensuring a fair hearing, double jeopardy and 4 years since the events causing witnesses evidence to be unsafe and the continued trauma the case is causing to this individual and her family. They refuse to give up and are continuing to pursue the case with a 7 day hearing set for June If Kat is attends the hearing she will get limited support from the NMC to cover her associated expenses - they will offer her to attend "remotely" by video link etc at key parts but this is not equitable to a fair hearing - she has the right to attend and this should not be restricted on financial grounds.

If the NMC offer some financial support for her to attend ( she would have to travel daily to London for each day of hearing as has to return home to look after her children ) they do not offer financial support for any witnesses she may wish to call to support her case nor any financial support for appropriate legal representation.

The NMC recently have said they will be addressing the issue of non represented registrants by implementing a LIMITED PROBONO service. ( has not been confirmed or implemented yet despite this and many other cases showing the need for equitable representation for ALL persons involved in these cases. The NMC Probono scheme is suggesting using Law Students who can offer written advice to non represented registrants and possibly attend some hearings for those occurring in London. This is not equitable to defend a registrant's case again NMC Lawyers who are senior and experiences. Recent articles have identified the disparity between access to legal support of nurses compared to doctors - this is another example of how our nurses and midwives are struggling:

Please support so we can help her to defend her case FOR THE THIRD TIME.

This could so easily happen to ANY nurse or midwife working in ANY healthcare setting Funds raised will pay for: - preparation of case - travel expenses for Kat to attend daily - travel expenses and accommodation for legal representation to attend the full hearing