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Today, the union’s Nursing and Midwifery Committee has criticised the NMC’s (Nursing and Midwifery Council) proposal to increase registration fees.
The NMC already raised their registration fee from £76 – to £100 per annum in 2012. At the same time, the Government bailed them out of their financial mess to the tune of 20 million; this coupled with their annual set income should have given the NMC a longer period of stability.
Whilst UNISON recognises that the NMC have to give their finances a regular health check this should not be funded by the hard-pressed nurses and midwives.
UNISON head of nursing Gail Adams said:
“Nurses and midwives have no choice, if they don’t pay their registration fee they can’t practice. So they will be understandably angry if that fee was to increase again.
“Nurses and midwives have been struggling with pay freezes and a huge increase in their workload. The last they need is an inflated registration fee.
“We will have a close look at the proposals, consult with our members and highlight our concerns with Government.”
Ann Moses, Chair of UNISON’s Nursing & Midwifery Committee said:
“As a staff nurse I know the impact that the current fee level has on nurses.
“It’s becoming ever more difficult for people to balance their budget at home and this will only add to the worry of hard working nurses.
“Many won’t be able to afford this.
“The work which the NMC does is important but fitness to practice is a public protection issue and nurses should not carry the full brunt of this cost.”
