NMC Quality Assurance Monitoring Drives Up Nursing And Midwifery Education Standards

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 30 Sep 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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We have published our quality assurance monitoring results for 2008-2009, noting an overall improvement in the quality of UK nursing and midwifery education programmes.

Download Quality assurance monitoring results 2008-2009 [PDF]

In 2007 the NMC moved to a robust risk-based approach to quality assure UK nursing and midwifery education programmes.

Last year, 74% of the programme providers inspected received good or outstanding grades across the five assessment areas¹ and earned autonomy for this year's monitoring cycle.

This year the figure increased to 79%, an encouraging result. The remainder will receive one, two or three day inspections in 2009-2010.

Commenting on the results, NMC Interim UK Head of Quality Assurance, Dr Meriel Hutton said:

"The results of this year's quality assurance monitoring of nursing and midwifery education demonstrate that the new risk-based process drives up quality.

We are commited to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of the public and fulfil this by ensuring the highest standards in nursing and midwifery education and practice.

Although we recognise that this new approach is not a light touch we believe that it is the right touch."

Notes

1. The quality assurance monitoring covers five areas: resources; admissions and progression; practice learning; fitness for practice; and quality assurance.

2. Monitoring takes place each year between November and May and carrie out by HLSP (recently re-branded Mott MacDonald) and HIW

3. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) exists to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the public. We register all nurses and midwives and ensure that they are properly qualified and competent to work in the UK. We set standards of education, training and conduct that nurses and midwives. We provide advice and guidance to help nurses and midwives keep their skills and knowledge up to date so that they can deliver high quality healthcare consistently throughout their careers. We have fair processes to investigate allegations made against nurses and midwives who may not have followed our standards, rules and the Code.

4. A weekly schedule of NMC fitness to practice hearings is available in the Fitness to Practise section.

Source
Nursing & Midwifery Council