New measures to make it a criminal offence for people who are not qualified as a nurse to use the title and mislead the public
Anyone misleading the public and describing themselves as a nurse without the relevant qualifications and registration will be committing a crime, under new measures announced by the government to protect the title ‘nurse’ in law.
The move will help to boost protections and safety for both patients and staff, driving up standards and improving patient experience across the NHS through the government’s Plan for Change.
Currently, anyone – including those struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for serious misconduct or criminal convictions – can call themselves a nurse. This can result in the public thinking they’re getting advice and care from an expert professional like a nurse when they aren’t.
Previous reported examples of the job title being misused include someone calling herself a nurse at a large public event after being struck off and another reportedly masquerading as an aesthetic nurse.
There will be exemptions for relevant professions like veterinary nurse, dental nurse and nursery nurse, where the title ‘nurse’ is legitimately used.
The government is listening to nurses and recognises they are the backbone of the NHS, and today’s announcement follows campaigning by unions for the government to act on the issue, as well as by Dawn Butler MP who introduced a Ten-Minute Rule Bill earlier this year to protect the title ‘nurse’.
Through the Plan for Change, the government is driving forward vital reform to get the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future. This year, a refreshed workforce plan will also be published to ensure the health service has the right workforce in the right place at the right time.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:
Only the title “registered nurse” is currently protected in law. The new legislation will change that - ensuring that only those individuals registered with the NMC can legally use the title.
Anyone violating this will be committing a criminal offence and could face a hefty fine running into the thousands of pounds.
There have been previous reports of bogus nurses misleadingly using the title. One ran a cosmetic clinic offering Botox and dermal filler treatments for several years despite not being registered with the NMC.
Another gave a speech at a Covid conspiracy rally which likened NHS nurses and doctors to war criminals – spreading misinformation about vaccines and bringing her former colleagues into disrepute. She continued to call herself a nurse despite being struck off by the NMC.
A previous Freedom of Information request showed that across 93% of all NHS trusts, there were more than 8,000 people with the term “nurse” in their job title who had no registered nursing qualifications. Although these people are supervised and providing important care, their job titles can cause confusion. Some, including nursery nurses, will be exempt under this new legislation
Duncan Burton, Chief Nursing Officer for England, said:
There are already various safeguards in place to deter people from pretending to be a nurse.
The most serious cases would be captured by fraud offences and depending on the case they can also be prosecuted for other more serious offences like causing grievous bodily harm, assault, or manslaughter.
The new legislation – expected to be laid this Parliament – will help to strengthen those existing safeguards.
Registered nurses go through high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes and complete a process called revalidation every three years – ensuring they can continually update their skills set. The new measures reflect that.
Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive , said:
Dr Crystal Oldman CBE, Chief Executive at The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing, said:
Paul Rees MBE, Interim Chief Executive and Registrar at the Nursing and Midwifery Council, said:
Helga Pile, UNISON Head of Health, said:
Rachel Power, Chief Executive of The Patients Association, said:
Alison Morton, CEO, Institute of Health Visiting, said:
Professor Greta Westwood CBE PhD RN, CEO of the Florence Nightingale Foundation, said:
Notes to Editors