About Nursing - governing and statutory bodies

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

In April 2002, the UKCC and National Boards were replaced by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as the body by which trained nurses and student nurses are bound and protected.

Address details:

NMC
23 Portland Place
London
W1B 1PZ

T: 020 7637 7181
F : 020 7436 2924
E: advice@nmc-uk.org

The NMC replaced the UKCC and the National Boards as the body responsible for establishing and improving standards of nursing, midiwfery and health visiting care in the UK, in order to serve and protect the public.

The key tasks of the NMC are to:

• Maintain a register of nurses, midwives and health visitors
• Set standards and guidelines for nursing, midiwfery and health visiting education, practice and conduct
• Provide advice on professional standards
• Undertake quality assurance for nursing and midwifery education
• Consider allegations of misconduct or unfitness to practice due to ill health

The NMC also offers the following services:

• a 24 hour automated registration confirmation service for employers on 020 7631 3200
• free and confidential advice for nurses, midwives and health visitors
• free publications to keep practitioners, students and the general public informed about the NMC's work
• events such as roadshows, open days and consultative comferences
• A quarterly magazine - NMC News, mailed to 634,000 practitioners throughout the UK and overseas

All nurses, midwives and health visitors must be registered with the NMC in order to work in the UK. Once you have completed your diploma or degree in nursing you will need to register on the appropriate part of the NMC register eg Adult Nurse, Child Nurse etc. For more information click here.