UNIONS called for an independent investigation today after regulatory failures saw more than a dozen nurses and midwives who should have been banned from treating patients continue to work.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) apologised for its “completely and utterly unacceptable” failure to properly assess individuals over a 12-year period.

Nurses or midwives must declare any health or character issues that may prevent them being able to practise safely, such as a criminal record for a serious offence, or an unmanaged health condition, to remain on the NMC’s register.

It has emerged that the full process for investigating these concerns had not been followed for 12 years however, after a member of staff raised concerns to the NMC’s new leadership in February.

The Royal College of Nursing’s chief nursing officer Professor Lynn Woolsey said: “This is the latest in a catalogue of failings at the NMC and again calls into question whether it is fit for purpose as our profession’s regulator.

“Today’s vague apology will not suffice, and we will lead the UK’s nursing staff in asking very tough questions.

“The NMC must ensure all those practising as registered nurses are safe to do so at the point of registration and throughout their careers.

“It is a potentially dangerous regulatory failing that individuals made appropriate declarations regarding criminal convictions and/or health conditions over such a long period of time without appropriate checks.”

Unison head of professional services Gail Adams said: “It beggars belief this could have continued so long, particularly when the NMC has operated under greater scrutiny because of other mistakes.”

She urged the regulator to “go further and ensure steps are taken to prevent another mistake occurring.”

The NMC said it has brought in a team of paralegals to assess more than 18,000 applications from the period.

It is now contacting 421 nurses and midwives for more information to assist a review by an assistant registrar.

NMC chief executive and registrar Paul Rees said: “The NMC has faced a challenging period for a number of years, culminating in the publication of the Independent Culture Review, in July 2024, which highlighted the organisation was affected with a range of problems, including bullying, harassment, racism and failures of systems.”

A Royal College of Midwives spokesperson said: “We welcome the NMC’s transparency in identifying this historic failure and its commitment to putting it right. It will cause understandable anxiety for the small number of midwives affected, who are not at fault for this mistake, as well as a burden on NHS employers and questions for the public.

“We know NHS employers already carry out their own enhanced checks on maternity staff, so there is no suggestion that the public have been put at risk. But the RCM will be seeking assurance from the NMC to ensure this issue is resolved swiftly, fairly and cannot happen again.”