Primary care nurses among new group informing NMC Code and revalidation reviews

Primary and community care nurses are to inform a new advisory group as part of the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s ongoing reviews into its Code and revalidation process.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has formed a new ‘breadth of practice advisory group’ – one of three advisory groups – to ensure that it hears a ‘broad and diverse range’ of perspectives and experiences from across the professions.

It will include voices from across the NHS and independent providers, as well as from social care, primary care, community care, education and research, commissioning, management and leadership.

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The NMC is reviewing its Code and revalidation procedure to reflect the UK’s ‘evolving health and social care landscape’ and has said it hopes to use the experiences harnessed from a wide range of roles and settings across the UK to inform the process

A public consultation is to be launched by the regulator on any changes in September 2026, with a new Code and revalidation process expected in October 2027.

Joanne Bosanquet, chief executive of The Foundation of Nursing Studies and a visiting professor at the University of Surrey, is the new co-chair of the breadth of practice advisory group.

She said: ‘Nursing and midwifery are globally significant professions. We must ensure that we establish a future-focused ethical code and revalidation process that prepares us to respond to population needs and advocate for our citizens and communities.

‘I will ensure a broad and diverse range of nursing and midwifery voices across the UK influence this review through this advisory group. We will provide advice, guidance, and feedback to the steering group throughout the entire process.’

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So far, the new advisory group has discussed the importance of ‘future-proofing’ the Code’s role in tackling racism and other forms of discrimination in health and care.

Other topics discussed include how the NMC can promote the Code’s role as a tool to support professionals in their practice; professionals’ role in ensuring sustainability in their practice; and a new draft vision for revalidation centred on its role in helping registrants to develop and reflect on their practice.

Donna O’Boyle, NMC’s acting executive director of professional practice, added: ‘It’s essential that we listen and learn from nurses, midwives and nursing associates across many settings and scopes of practice, so that our future Code and revalidation process are relevant and supportive for all professionals, everywhere.

‘Hearing from our new breadth of practice advisory group will help us to deliver a modernised Code and revalidation process that reflect the rapidly evolving health and care landscape – ensuring that these key regulatory tools continue to serve as an effective guide to professionals in their daily practice and development.’

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The NMC will continue to hear from its three advisory groups as the regulator works towards a public consultation on final proposals in September.

Other groups include the ‘student and recently registered group’ and a ‘public advisory group’.