Nurse Convicted Of Possessing Child Pornography Struck Off, UK

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Also Included In: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Article Date: 28 Jul 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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A 36 year old nurse from Prescot, Merseyside has been struck off the register following a hearing before an independent panel of the Conduct and Competence Committee for the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

On 8th August 2007 at Liverpool Crown Court, Christopher Nolan was convicted upon indictment of 26 counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child. On 30th August 2007 at the same court, Nolan was sentenced to a 2 year community punishment and rehabilitation order with an activities requirement of 120 hours. He was also ordered to register pursuant to section 92 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for a period of 5 years and disqualified from working with children.

When finding their decision the independent panel considered that although, after his conviction, the registrant appears to have accepted his guilt, there is no clear evidence before them that the registrant has insight into his failings. The panel takes the view that the facts which lie behind the registrant's conviction are very serious.

Commenting on their decision, NMC spokesperson Sarah Connolly said:
"The panel are of the clear view that the registrant's behaviour is fundamentally incompatible with being a registrant and constitutes a very serious departure from the relevant standards as set out in the NMC's Code of Professional Conduct. They consider that confidence in the NMC would be undermined if the registrant is not struck off. It is also in the public interest that a striking-off order should be made, in that it is necessary for the protection of members of the public, for the maintenance of public confidence in the nursing profession and the NMC and for declaring and upholding proper standards of conduct."

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the UK regulator for two professions, nursing and midwifery. The primary purpose of the NMC is protection of the public. It does this through maintaining a register of all nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses eligible to practice within the UK and by setting standards for their education, training and conduct. Currently the number of registrants exceeds 674,000. The Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 (The Order), sets out the NMC's role and responsibilities.

Nursing and Midwifery Council

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