Unions urge reform of nursing body after damning reports

Trade unions have urged that reforms be immediately put in place at the regulatory body for nurses and midwives after external consultants criticised the organisation as “dysfunctional”.

The Irish Times reported on Thursday that an external review of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) had found that it was failing to discharge many of its statutory responsibilities. Arrangements for dealing with fitness to practise cases involving nurses and midwives were found in the review to be "unfit for purpose".

The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) expressed "deep concern" at the findings of the external reports into corporate governance and financial management at the NMBI.

Peter Hughes, PNA deputy secretary-designate, said the reports made for disturbing reading and raised questions about the levels of oversight and control of the NMBI that allowed practices and procedures to continue unhindered for so long.

“The PNA was to the forefront in raising questions about corporate governance, staffing and financial management at the NMBI and demanding full disclosure of the findings of reports into the NMBI. The reports make clear that the failings in governance impacted on the NMBI’s ability to discharge its statutory responsibility.”

Mr Hughes said that the Department of Health and the former NMBI board had questions to answer on the level of oversight of the organisation.

Siptu nursing sector organiser, Kevin Figgis, said: "The findings of these reports, conducted by independent consultants, are deeply concerning. They are a vindication of the concerns expressed by nurses and midwives who believed that financial and governance procedures within the NMBI, the State regulatory body for their professions, was either not in place or, where it was, it was flawed.

“Our members’ worst fears have been realised, with confirmation of major deficits in governance and expenditure protocols at the NMBI. In fact, the degree of unaccountability for expenditure of our members’ fees is staggering.”

The Department of Health said the possible need for any legislative amendment in relation to fitness to practise procedures would be considered within the overall operational and management review currently being undertaken by the NMBI.

“The Department of Health is working closely with the NMBI to ensure that enhanced governance procedures are implemented and that robust management and operational processes are introduced.”