Yesterday an independant report was published by the Nursing and Midwifery Council into their conduct and internal culture during the handling of the investigation around the care of Joshua Titcombe.

James Titcombe, Joshua's father, explains how the tragic loss of their young son didn't end there. The way they were dealt with by the trust was bad enough and took many years to get acknowledgement of the failings that led to Joshua's death. However more was to come

He and his wife  had a long battle with the Nursing and Midwifery Council to bring those accountable to task. The themes he describes in his blog ( below ) show appalling behaviour and the culture and attitude of those working for the NMC at the time.

However, is this culture really changing?

We have observed recent hearings where the same themes are being demonstrated:

- failure to present ALL evidence to the panel

- failure to produce evidence which may support the registrant's case

- failure to take into account contextual factors

- lack of compassion and poor recognition of the impact proceedings have 

- failure to safeguard and provide holistic support

The total cost of Verita’s report was £151,742.22. This is in addition to the £240,000 that the NMC spent on redacting personal data that Mr TItcombe requested under FOI / SAR

Whilst Andrea Sutcliffe promises a commitment to change the culture within the NMC how can nurses, midwives, nursing associates and members of the public be confident that this will truly occur. We pay the NMC £120 per year to be on the nursing register and yet have no say in how this money is spent.  "Public interest" surely will not be there to support such spending.

The Annual Fitness to Practice report published for 2018-2019 shows:

- 5,373 referrals to FtP

- 1,190 case required full investigation

- income was £92 million. Their spend was £81.6 million.

- £38.3 million was spent on FtP alone

Is this in the public interest?

Is this in the professions interest?

Who's interest is it in?