NMC v Nurse
This was a multiple registrant case relating to the death of the same patients and a hearing was set for several weeks.
The only nurse who was represented by UNISON avoided the lengthy hearing and extensive negative press coverage by following UNISON advice to accept current impairment and show insight in to their mistakes.
With UNISON’s assistance, the nurse successfully applied for consensual panel determination for a three-year caution order that was made at a one day hearing.
Other nurses in the same case, including some that had non-UNISON representation, were mauled by the press and some were struck off the register.
NMC v Nurse
A multiple-registrant case relating to the death of a single patient played out over a full calendar year.
Only one nurse was represented by UNISON and, by following our advice in showing insight in to her mistakes, was given a three-year caution order.
Two other registrants were struck off the NMC register, including one that paid for private representation for a hearing lasting more than six weeks.
Another registrant who was privately represented also achieved a caution order, but she was liable for all the costs of her representation and attendance at hearing.
NMC v Nurse
A nurse on a charge of dishonesty was represented by UNISON and followed our advice in providing evidence of their insight, remorse, remediation and extenuating mitigating circumstances.
The panel at their hearing found that their fitness to practise was not currently impaired.
NMC v Nurse
A nurse was dismissed from work and referred to the NMC on several charges on the basis that they were under the influence of noxious substances on one occasion while on duty.
Fortunately they were represented by UNISON and the facts against them were not proved at the substantive hearing.
NMC v Nurse
A nurse was dismissed from work and referred to the NMC on multiple charges of dishonesty. She was represented by UNISON and the charges were not proved at her NMC hearing.
NMC v Nurse
A nurse was dismissed for gross misconduct and referred to the NMC with several allegations including dishonesty. The nurse was so traumatised by the events that she was willing to accept all the charges and apply for consensual panel determination for a caution order of 2 years.
However, following UNISON advice, the registrant attended a conduct and competence committee hearing, which found just one fact proved and that her fitness to practise was not currently impaired.
Other information
Following submissions from UNISON, many cases are closed at the regulator’s investigation stage when registrants follow our advice to provide evidence of insight and remediation. So they never go to a hearing.
When a regulator’s investigating committee finds that there is a case to answer and the matter proceeds to a substantive hearing, this can be a daunting prospect for anyone, but particularly so for unrepresented registrants.
The regulators’ annual reports show that registrants are up to four times more likely to be found fit to practise at their hearings if they are represented. Or, to put it another way, registrants are up to four times as likely to be found currently impaired and receive a sanction if they are un-represented.
When allegations indicate that, if proven, the registrant poses a serious risk to the public or they have brought their profession into such disrepute that the public would lose faith in that profession, registrants are referred to interim order hearings.
Interim order hearings decide whether a registrant should be suspended from their professional register by way of an interim suspension order (ISO) or become subject to restrictions on their practice by way of an interim conditions of practice order (ICoP).
Interim hearings are arranged at very short notice, often before registrants can arrange representation and, as such, they are likely to have ISOs imposed against them.
When UNISON representation is subsequently provided, the registrant’s UNISON representative can often successfully apply for an early interim review hearing to present evidence to persuade the hearing panel to replace an ISO with an ICoP, or to revoke any existing interim order.