PSA response to the NMC’s announcement of further delays on publishing the Omambala reviews

We are disappointed that there will now be a further significant delay to the independent reviews. These reviews, and the Independent Culture Review (ICR), were commissioned in 2023 following the initial whistleblowing disclosures. The ICR, published in July 2024, raised serious concerns about the regulator's culture and safeguarding arrangements. The further independent reviews, led by Ijeoma Omambala KC, are looking into the NMC's handling of fitness to practise cases, and of whistleblowing.

We had pushed back the timing of our review of the NMC's performance for 2023/24 so it could take the Omambala KC reports into account. However, faced with continued delays to the reports, we decided to publish our review of the NMC last month. We found that the NMC had not met seven out of our 18 Standards of Good Regulation. In line with our escalation policy, we have written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the Chair of the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee to make them aware of our concerns.

The NMC has said that it will recommission the reviews, to be completed in the autumn. Given the serious nature of the concerns, these reviews must be robust and delivered on time. We expect the NMC to demonstrate it is doing everything within its control to achieve this. We will be monitoring progress through the Independent Oversight Group, which the PSA was tasked by the UK Government in setting up and chairing to provide enhanced oversight of the NMC in the wake of the Independent Culture Review.