Nursing watchdog chief steps down after damning report

A LOTHIAN nurse is to resign as president of a national watchdog following a damning report which makes allegations about bullying and harassment.

Nancy Kirkland also called on other members of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to "accept responsibility for the current difficulties and for their future resolution". Her vice-president Moi Ali, who is also an NHS Lothian board member, has said she will not resign as her "conduct has been exemplary".

She claims to be the whistle-blower who raised concerns with Livingston MP Jim Devine, triggering a debate in the House of Commons, which led to the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) inquiry.

Sources, however, believe Ms Ali, who has been a council member of the NMC since 2001, and vice president for more than 18 months, will face pressure to stand down. They say questions will be asked as to why she did not raise this issue sooner. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "We welcome the leadership shown by the president of the NMC in announcing her intention to resign. Clearly she has recognised the issues raised in the report and the need for change."

The damning report found problems including the lack of an IT system, delays in dealing with cases, correspondence which at times was insensitive or misleading, and poor quality information given to disciplinary hearings.

Its authors said they witnessed inappropriate and aggressive language used between council members and towards staff. The report does not comment on allegations of racism; however these are subject to a separate, internal inquiry. It may also raise questions over the future roles of both women with NHS Lothian.

Trained nurse Ms Kirkland now works in workforce planning and development and there will be obvious concerns if she has overseen an organisation where bullying took place.

Alan Boyter, director of human resources and organisational development at NHS Lothian, said however: "I can confirm that Ms Kirkland is an employee of NHS Lothian. Changes in her commitment to the Nursing and Midwifery Council do not affect her employment status with NHS Lothian."

Ms Kirkland said: "As a registered nurse, I was very proud to be elected as president of the NMC in October 2007. However, it was a concern to me to learn that there were long standing systematic problems in the organisation.

"Although I have only been president of the NMC for a short time – eight months – I share and take responsibility for the criticisms made by CHRE and I feel honour bound to do so. I therefore intend to resign as president."

Ms Ali, a public relations consultant who is a lay member on the NHS Lothian board, said: "Everyone has to look at their role. I've looked at mine. I honestly don't think I have anything to resign over. I believe my own conduct has been exemplary. It has been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Being the whistle-blower is hard. When you've done the right thing, why should you resign?"

Racism and bullying claims led to inquiry
THE official inquiry into the Nursing and Midwifery Council was launched after the watchdog was rocked by allegations of racism and bullying. Official complaints were allegedly made against members of the council of the NMC, which regulates 70,000 nurses and midwives.

Ben Bradshaw, the health minister, said that the claims that the NMC was "operating in an atmosphere of bullying, harassment and institutional racism" were so serious that they could not be investigated by the council itself.

The Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence, the regulatory watchdog and the Charity Commission were asked to look into the allegations.

In a response to Livingston MP Jim Devine's allegations of an "ingrained culture of bullying and racism", he warned he could use the "nuclear option" of a full Privy Council inquiry, similar to a public inquiry, if the problems were not resolved.