The Assistant Registrar rejected 191 out of 200 applications based on character issues while accepting just nine.
Nigerian Nurses Ordered to Leave UK- According to Nursing Times, several Nigerian nurses who are currently being investigated for fraud at a test center in the United Kingdom have been forced to leave the country, despite the fact that appeals are still being pending.
Some nurses’ visas were withdrawn as a result of allegations made by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and the magazine got a copy of letters from the Home Office that direct them to depart as soon as the following week.
A number of nurses and advocacy groups have accused the regulators made by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) of purposefully delaying processes to permit deportations. The NMC has been subjected to criticism for delays in processing cases.
“The NMC could be accused of deliberate delay so that these nurses could lose their rights of abode here in the UK,” Pastor Peters Omoragbon, executive president of Nurses Across the Borders, stated.
This statement raised the possibility that the delays were intentional. There have been no deliberate delays, according to NMC which has stated that it is attempting to settle cases as quickly as possible.
In 2023, NMC conducted an investigation into Yunnik Technologies Test Centre in Ibadan, Nigeria. The research revealed data abnormalities that suggested certain nurses may have received their Computer-Based Test (CBT) results fraudulently.
This issue was uncovered during the investigation. When it comes to the competency exam that international nurses are required to take to register in the UK, the CBT is an essential component. According to NMC, around 48 registered nurses and 669 applicants most likely obtained their results through fraudulent techniques, some of which may have involved the use of proxy testers.
All affected individuals were requested to retake the CBT after the investigation, and those suspected of fraud were asked to submit more proof. An assistant registrar (AR) examined applications from prospective registrants, while the NMC’s independent Investigating Committee (IC) handled cases involving individuals already on the register.
10 nurses have had their names removed from the registry as a result of IC hearings, while two have had their names kept. The AR rejected 191 out of 200 applications based on character issues while accepting just nine.
50 nurses, with the support of Nurses Across The Borders and the representation of Broad Street Solicitors, filed a pre-action protocol letter to the NMC in February, requesting that it coordinate with the Home Office to stop deportations prior to the finalization of appeals.
Following Nurse D’s successful appeal against her dismissal, they demanded a complete reevaluation of all instances. Nurse D successfully persuaded the panel to reverse the NMC’s judgment and reinstate her by citing her substantial preparation and clinical experience as reasons for her rapid completion of the CBT.
Regardless, the NMC has declared that the results of Nurse D’s case do not change the overall evidence of anomalies at the testing facility. It is the firm belief that each case must be considered on an individual basis, with the relevant personal history and any relevant statistical outliers factored in.
Legal firm Broad Street Solicitors has sent notice on the NMC, threatening to sue for judicial review and seek reimbursement of the regulator’s legal fees if the latter does not respond within fourteen days. At the same time, the NMC has denied discussing current legal issues but acknowledged contacting the Home Office for additional information.