INMO concern over evidence in some fitness-to-practise hearings

The regulatory body for nurses and midwives is in some cases embarking on full fitness-to- practise hearings when

there is insufficient evidence, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has claimed.

Speaking at the union's annual conference in Killarney, its director of regulation and social policy Edward Matthews signalled it could initiate High Court action against the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland if the practice continued.

Transparent

He said the INMO supported a transparent regulatory process, but it should be fair.

Mr Matthews told delegates the INMO had a “real concern” that in some cases the board was embarking on fitness-to-practise hearings in situations where there was not sufficient evidence.

He contended that in some cases the board was refusing to withdraw allegations made against nurses and midwives where originally it had been thought evidence would be available but subsequently such evidence did not appear to be available.

He said he was not talking about marginal cases where there was disagreement over evidence, but cases where there was simply not sufficient evidence. Mr Matthews said in such cases the board was causing great stress and anxiety for those who were subject to the investigations and at the same time costing thousands of euro in money paid into the regulatory body by nurses and midwives.

“The system that will have to stop or mark my words we will be in the High Court on that issue.”

Mr Matthews also maintained the media attention given to fitness-to-practise hearings involving nurses and midwives was “sometimes lurid and sensationalist”.

He suggested that only in the criminal courts of justice, where a person who was accused of serious offences such as murder, would similar levels of coverage be provided by the media.

Media outlets

“There are media outlets that attend every hearing, every day and follow nurses up and down the street. I cannot stop that and I cannot control it but we have to recognise that that is the environment we are in now.”

Mr Matthews said the INMO had prevented the board from issuing press releases to tell the media about nurses and midwives who were the subject of fitness-to-practise hearings. He said the union had been effective in ensuring that while the public knew what was going on, “we are not inviting attention”.

He said the INMO had also, on occasion, been successful in obtaining private fitness-to-practise hearings in a number of cases.