The role of NMBI is to protect the public and uphold high standards of professional practice and behaviour amongst nurses and midwives.

• Due to the on-going public health emergency, fitness to practise inquiries and related meetings with witnesses, scheduled for April 2020, have been deferred. These decisions have been taken due to the need to avoid public gatherings. We are also mindful that many of those involved in this process are likely to be involved in the provision of health services and we do not wish to take them away from this role or put additional pressure on them. The situation with regards to inquiries scheduled for May and beyond will be kept under review.
• Board consideration of certain fitness to practise matters has also been deferred. This is based on the need to avoid large gatherings and to ensure that individual nurses and midwives get an opportunity to make submissions to the Board before the Board makes important fitness to practise decisions.

As a fundamental component of our role, we continue to receive and manage complaints in the usual manner; however if nurses and midwives and their representatives need additional time to respond to our correspondence, requests for additional time will be responded to positively.

Risk analysis of all complaints to identify any nurses or midwives who appear to pose an immediate threat to public safety will carry on in the usual manner and appropriate action will be taken.