NMC Annual Report and Accounts 2013 - 14

• Redeveloping our website: we aim to launch our improved website at the end
of 2014. We are involving patients and the public in the design and testing to
help ensure the site is easier to use and meets their needs, as well as those of
nurses, midwives, students, educators and employers.
Other regulators, partners and stakeholders
48 We continue to engage regularly with professional bodies and trades union and
value their input into our work. We welcome the positive feedback they have
provided about the constructive nature of our relationships with them. We held a
number of listening events with stakeholders to help shape and inform key aspects
of our work.
49 We are improving our engagement and collaboration with both senior nursing and
midwifery professionals and other regulators. For example:
• Agreeing a revised Memorandum of Understanding with the Care Quality
Commission and working on an operational protocol to underpin this. We are
taking forward similar initiatives with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, the
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and the Northern Ireland Regulation and
Quality Improvement Authority.
• Working jointly with the General Medical Council on guidance around the duty
of candour and reporting of 'near misses' as proposed in Hard truths (2013),
the government response to the Francis report.
• Visiting the eleven trusts placed in special measures following the mortality
review conducted by Sir Bruce Keogh in 2013. These helped build constructive
dialogue with directors of nursing across our regulatory functions including
education quality assurance, midwifery supervision, our revalidation model and
referring fitness to practise cases to us. In England, we are also working in
partnership with the Trust Development Authority (TDA) to engage with the
directors of nursing in the trusts for which the TDA is responsible.
• Attending all of the regional Quality Surveillance Groups in England,
significantly adding to our insight into quality and risk intelligence and
increasing our visibility to nurse leaders on the ground.
• Playing a full and proactive role as a member of the Alliance of UK Health
Regulators on Europe (AURE) which brings together the nine professional
healthcare regulators to influence European Union policy. Currently, the group
is engaged in preparations for transposition of the Mutual Recognition of
Professional Qualifications Directive including liaising with stakeholders at UK
and EU level.
50 As a UK regulator, we are alert to the differing approaches to healthcare across
the four countries and the implications for our work. Engagement with partners and
stakeholders in all four countries is of key importance to us. We have:
• Worked collaboratively with the Chief Nursing Officer in Scotland and now
convene a senior stakeholders group which meets regularly to provide us with
expert input and advice.
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