Nursing and Midwifery Council

The NMC congratulates all those nurses and midwives who have been awarded New Year Honours

Dame Commander (DBE)

• Eileen Sills, Chief Nurse and Director of Patient Experience, Guy's and St Thomas's NHS Foundation Trust. For services to nursing

Commander (CBE)

• Wilma Christina Jean Donnelly, Director of Nursing, Royal College of Nursing (Wales). For services to Nursing, the Armed Forces and Trade Unionism
• Professor Julienne Elizabeth Meyer, Professor of Nursing Care for Older People. For services to Nursing and Older People
• Professor Fiona Mary Ross, Professor of Primary Care Nursing, Kingston University and St George's and Director of Research, Leadership Foundation for Higher Education. For services to Nursing

Officer (OBE)

• Ms Maud Kells, Nurse, WEC International. For services to people in the Democratic Republic of Congo
• Mrs Sharon Mary White, Founding Member, School and Public Health Nurses Association. For services to Public Health Nursing for School Aged Children

Member (MBE)

• Professor Uduak Archibong, Professor of Diversity, University of Bradford. For services to Higher Education and Equality
• Mrs Deborah Louise Bone, Mental Health Nurse, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust. For services to Children and Young People.
• Mrs Teresa Jane Chinn, for services to Nursing
• Matthew Hodson, Consultant Nurse, Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Respiratory Care
• Winston Anthony McDowell, Bank Staff Nurse, Broadmoor Hospital, West London Mental Health NHS Trust. For services to Mental Health
• Mrs Anne McGregor McPherson, for services to Nursing
  Mrs Margaret Rose-Whyte-Linton Mitchell, Stroke Liaison Team Leader, Westgate Health Centre. For services to Healthcare in Tayside
• Mrs Rene Fordyce Rigby, Development Officer, Scottish Care. For services to Mental Health Nursing
• Miss Anita Ruckledge, Lead Nurse for Dementia, the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. For services to Nursing
• Mrs Judith Mary Smith, Macmillan Nurse Consultant, Cancer and Palliative Care, Borders General Hospital. For services to Oncology in the Scottish Borders
• Mrs Sally Jane Tyler, Children’s Epilepsy Specialist Nurse, Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust. For services to Nursing

Medallist (BEM)

• Mrs Dorothy Watson, Staff Nurse, Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride. For services to Healthcare and charity

NMC Council signs off revised Code of Conduct for nurses and midwives

On 3rd December, the Council approved revised content for the Code of Conduct, which will be published in early 2015. The Code sets the principles of what the public should expect from nurses and midwives, and defines what it means to be a regulated professional. The revised version of the Code identifies best-practice behaviours as well as standards for practise.

The Code was last revised in 2008 as a response to the Francis report. There are significant changes in the most recent version, including a new section about the responsible use of all forms of communications – for example social media – and the re-instatement of a previous requirement for nurses and midwives to intervene if an emergency occurs outside their place of work. 

NMC Chief Executive and Registrar, Jackie Smith, said:

“Quite simply the Code is about good practice. There are elements to it that are new – and it is central to everyone’s practice.

“With the revised version, we’re trying to tackle the issue of professionalism and leadership and the use of social media.

“What we’re expecting is that the Code isn’t just a document that you go through in your student training and happen to make reference to if you end up in fitness to practise, but that it becomes ‘live’.”

The centrality of the Code to everyday practise will be affirmed by the introduction of revalidation in December 2015. Revalidation will require individual nurses and midwives to reflect on their adherence to their professional code, standards and behaviours.

NMC seeking to appoint two Council members

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is seeking to appoint two nurses or midwives to join its governing Council from 1 May 2015.

The NMC regulates nurses and midwives in order to protect the public. Its Council comprises six nurses or midwives, and six lay members, including the Chair. It includes members from each of the four countries of the UK.

There are currently two vacancies for Council members, at least one of whom will need to live or work in Scotland. The positions are open to anyone who is currently registered with the NMC. The successful appointees will take office from 1 May, 2015.

The time commitment for these positions is approximately three days a month, with a remuneration package of £12,000 a year. We will also reimburse reasonable expenses. 

Further information here: http://www.nmc-uk.org/About-us/The-Council/council-appointments/