What is... the NMC?

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the UK's statutory regulator for nurses and midwives in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Its primary mission is to protect the public by ensuring that only those who meet rigorous professional standards are permitted to practise.

The NMC sets educational, ethical, and professional standards, and takes regulatory action where needed to uphold safety and trust in healthcare.

For anyone involved in the medico-legal sector, especially solicitors, coroners, and regulatory bodies, understanding the NMC’s role is crucial. Its guidelines and disciplinary processes underpin the credibility and accountability of clinical witnesses in litigation, inquests, and professional misconduct cases.

The NMC’s Core Functions and Public Duty

The NMC oversees nearly 800,000 registered professionals across the UK. Its core responsibilities include:

• Setting standards for nursing and midwifery education and practice

• Maintaining a public register of qualified practitioners

• Assessing fitness to practise concerns and handling disciplinary investigations

• Upholding the Code, a professional framework that defines ethical practice

The NMC's authority stems from its statutory basis under the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001. All UK-based practising nurses and midwives must be on the NMC register and renew their registration every three years via the revalidation process. This ensures continuing competence and professionalism in a fast-evolving clinical environment.

The NMC also has the power to strike off or suspend individuals whose conduct or performance raises concerns. These decisions are of significant legal consequence, particularly in the context of fitness to practise hearings and clinical negligence litigation.

Why the NMC Matters in Medico-Legal Work

The NMC is not just a healthcare regulator, it’s a cornerstone of legal accountability in clinical settings. When clinical negligence or regulatory failings are alleged, the credibility of any nurse or midwife offering opinion evidence hinges on their NMC standing.

In Clinical Negligence Cases

• Legal teams often instruct nurse expert witnesses to provide opinion on whether the care provided met acceptable standards. These standards are framed by the NMC Code - a definitive guide to professional responsibilities such as safeguarding, consent, documentation, and advocacy.

• At Apex Experts, our nursing expert witnesses exclusively include NMC-registered clinicians. This guarantees that their opinions are informed by current regulatory expectations and recognised standards of care.

In Fitness to Practise Proceedings

• The NMC itself runs Fitness to Practice tribunals to investigate allegations against nurses and midwives. These proceedings can include allegations of poor practice, criminal conduct, or ethical breaches. Independent experts may be called to assess whether actions fell below the threshold of professional acceptability.

• Apex Experts is increasingly engaged by defence and claimant firms involved in Fitness to Practice investigations, providing impartial, court-ready analysis that aligns with both clinical evidence and regulatory thresholds.

  
  

What Apex Experts Does, and Why the NMC Is So Relevant

Apex Experts is a leading UK-based provider of nursing and midwifery expert witness services. We work across a range of legal contexts, including:

• Clinical negligence litigation

• Inquests and coroner’s investigations

• Fitness to practise defence

• Independent case reviews for insurers and regulatory bodies

What distinguishes Apex is our commitment to regulatory rigour. Every nurse expert on our panel is:

• Fully NMC registered and revalidated

• Actively practising or recently clinically engaged

• Experienced in applying legal tests such as Bolam, Bolitho, and Montgomery

Each expert is vetted to confirm there are no pending NMC investigations or past disciplinary sanctions.

We assist solicitors by delivering robust, balanced, and well-referenced reports that comply with CPR Part 35, Bolam/Bolitho principles, and the expectations of civil courts, coroners, and regulatory panels alike.

Why You Need to Understand the NMC

The Nursing and Midwifery Council is not just an administrative body, it is a professional pillar upholding patient safety and legal standards in healthcare. Its role resonates through every clinical negligence case, every regulatory tribunal, and every nursing expert opinion.

At Apex Experts, our commitment to NMC-aligned practice ensures that our expert witnesses not only meet clinical standards, but also reflect the highest expectations of the legal system.

For expert evidence that is NMC-informed, CPR-compliant, and trusted in courts across the UK, Apex Experts is here to help.

Contact Us:

If you need to instruct a nursing expert witness whose work is compliant with the NMC Code and CPR rules, we can help! Apex Experts delivers clear, clinical, and compliant opinion evidence for claimant, defendant, and regulatory instructions.

For further information on our Expert Witness services, recruitment, or anything else, please email us at info@apexexperts.co.uk, call 0203 633 2213, or visit our contact us page to send us a message - we can't wait to hear from you!