Nursing and Midwifery Council

The Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) is the UK regulator for two professions, Nursing and Midwifery.

It does this through maintaining a register of all nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses eligible to practise within the UK and by setting standards for their education, training and conduct. The number of nurses and midwives on the register as of 31st March 2006 exceeded 682,000, making the NMC the largest healthcare regulator in the UK. The The Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001, sets out the NMC's role and responsibilities.

To achieve its aims, the NMC:


 * maintains a register of qualified nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses
 * sets standards, practice and conduct
 * provides advice for nurses and midwives
 * considers allegations of misconduct or unfitness to practise due to ill health