The latest episode of our podcast, NMBI Voice is now available and this month, fitness to practise is our focus as we hear from Marie-Therese Hackett, our Inquiries Legal Adviser.

Fitness to practise sounds intimidating and for nurses and midwives facing complaints, it can feel like the hardest side of regulation.

Marie-Therese speaks to Kathyann Barrett about how fitness to practise protects public safety and how the three-stage legal framework for complaints works.

A key area of focus for Marie-Therese is NMBI’s Compassion Project. In this episode, she explains how the Compassion Project transformed witness care through a dedicated liaison officer and 24/7 emotional support line. She also discusses why witnesses experience re-traumatisation without trauma-informed practices and how reducing ‘witness work’ through practical measures supports participants.

Marie-Therese has 20 years’ experience in the legal profession working across criminal law, civil litigation, and healthcare regulation. Her professional background provides a strong foundation for ensuring regulatory processes are fair, transparent, and proportionate. Having worked closely with vulnerable participants in a range of legal processes and regulatory systems, she is deeply aware of the impact such processes can have on the individual.

These experiences have made her passionate about promoting compassionate practice and reducing harm wherever possible. Marie-Therese’s personal experience of neonatal intensive care units has given her a profound respect for healthcare professionals and a deep appreciation of the trust that patients and their families place in the healthcare system. These personal experiences strengthen her commitment to fairness, empathy, and continuous improvements in healthcare regulation.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. 

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NMBI Voice launched in September and each episode covers different areas of our work, as well as the key changes and challenges facing our professions today. We aim to break down complex topics and offer practical guidance you can use. 

You can listen back to previous episodes through the links below. 

Episode 1: From Principles to Practice: The NMBI Code 

Episode 2: Keeping Practice Safe: Inside NMBI’s Professional Competence Scheme 

Episode 3: Realities of Registration

New episodes air on the first Monday of every month. Make sure to follow NMBI Voice to stay up to date as new episodes air.