The key responsibility for the NMBI as the statutory regulator of nurses and midwives in Ireland is to maintain an accurate register of nurses and midwives.
The inactive file was established in May 1993 as an administrative mechanism to facilitate nurses and midwives who were not in active practice, for reasons including retirement, working abroad or undertaking a career break. There are currently almost 30,000 persons on the inactive file. However, there is no legislative basis for the inactive file to continue.
The NMBI Board approved a proposal to disband the inactive file following a public consultation process in March 2017. This has taken on a new urgency given the introduction of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018. Both specify that personal data can only be collected for specified and explicit purposes, and must have a legal basis.
If you are a nurse or midwife on the inactive file you are now being invited to choose from one of the following two options:
1. You can choose to remain on the Register. If you wish your name to remain on the Register in 2019, you will be required to pay the Annual Retention Fee of €100. A fee notice will be sent to you following the 1st November 2018. You do not need to do anything further now if this is the option you wish to choose;
2. You can request to have your name voluntarily removed from the Register. If this is your favoured option you can do this by completing the Voluntary Removal Form accompanying this letter. There is no fee for voluntary removal. If you wish to apply to restore your registration at a later date following voluntary removal, you will be able to do that by filling out the Restoration Form (following voluntary removal) and complying with any conditions for registration at that point including payment of the Annual Retention Fee.
If you do not choose 1 or 2 above:
3. Your name will be removed from the Register for non-payment of the Annual Retention Fee, as part of the annual removal process in March 2019. Should you wish to restore your name following removal for non-payment of the fee you will be required to fill out the Restoration Form and pay a €250 restoration fee. If you do not apply for restoration prior to the 1 July 2019, you will also need to comply with any conditions for registration imposed at that point.
If you have any queries please call our helpline on 1890 200 116.
Letters were issued to all nurses and midwives on the inactive file in recent weeks. If you are the relative of a nurse or midwife who is deceased, we apologise for any distress the receipt of this letter has caused you. If this is the case, it would be appreciated if you would send an email to registration@nmbi.ie and include the full name and PIN or date of birth of the nurse or midwife so that we may make the necessary change to the Register.
The President, Ms Essene Cassidy and the Board of the NMBI would like to thank you for your contribution to nursing and/or midwifery and the health services and your understanding of the need to ensure an accurate Register.
