Chief executive and registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Andrea Sutcliffe has announced she will be stepping down in the coming weeks due to ill health.
Ms Sutcliffe had a fall last month which led to a scan that ‘unexpectedly revealed’ a tumour requiring neurosurgery in the next few weeks.
The NMC said the tumour was ‘almost certainly benign and a full recovery is expected’.
However, there would be a ‘lengthy recovery period after the operation’ and so Ms Sutcliffe had taken the ‘difficult decision’ to step down after five years in post to focus on her recovery.
She will step down from the role at the point of her surgery, which is likely to be around the end of June.
Ms Sutcliffe said: ‘It’s been a great privilege to lead the NMC for the last five years.
‘I’ve been constantly inspired by the amazing work that the nurses, midwives and nursing associates on our register do for people and communities.
‘Stepping down has been a difficult decision for me but it may be some time before I’m well enough to fully meet the demands of this job.’
She said she was ‘particularly disappointed’ that she would not be at the NMC to ‘lead the organisational response’ to the commissioned independent reviews into its culture and regulatory processes.
‘Whatever the findings and recommendations may be, I’m confident that the NMC and its people will deliver positive change,’ added Ms Sutcliffe.
She thanked the NMC’s stakeholders ‘for their collaboration on our shared goals over the years, as well as my wonderful colleagues for their consistent hard work and dedication to upholding high standards of nursing and midwifery practice’.
Sir David Warren, chair of the NMC Council, said: ‘On behalf of the council, I want to pay tribute to Andrea for her leadership of the NMC over the past five years.
‘She has brought immense energy and empathy to her role and an unwavering commitment to maintaining public confidence in the nursing and midwifery professions, coupled with a formidable work ethic.’
He added: ‘Under her tenure, the NMC has delivered new standards for our professions, brought the public voice into our key decisions, and played a crucial role in the national response to the pandemic.
‘All of us on the council will miss Andrea’s absolute dedication to the NMC and determination to work for safe, kind and effective care. We are very sorry that she has had to stand down from her role at this time and wish her well for her full recovery.’
The NMC said it will be appointing an interim chief executive and registrar and will advertise for a permanent successor.
