👩‍⚕️ Nurse (Use of Title)

Commons Chamber

🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

Dawn Butler introduced a Bill to protect the title of “nurse,” aiming to prevent unqualified individuals from using the term, which currently poses a significant risk to public safety. She highlighted shocking cases where people misused the title, emphasizing the need for legislative change to honor the dedication and qualifications of genuine nurses. The Bill, supported by numerous nursing organizations and MPs, is set for its second reading on March 28. Butler’s initiative reflects a broader effort by the Labour Government to reform and strengthen the NHS after years of neglect.

Summary

  • Bill Introduction: Dawn Butler, MP for Brent East, proposed a Bill to protect the title of “nurse” to ensure that only qualified individuals can use it.

  • Campaign and Support: The Bill has been supported by the #ProtectNurse campaign, led by Professor Alison Leary MBE and Paul Trevatt, along with various nursing organizations and unions such as the Queen’s Nursing Institute, the Institute of Health Visiting, Unison Health, Unite, and the Royal College of Nursing.

  • Current Issue: Currently, anyone can legally use the title “nurse” without qualifications, even those who have been struck off the Nursing and Midwifery Council register or have criminal convictions, which poses risks to public safety.

  • Public Trust: The public trusts the title of “nurse” and often shares personal medical information with those claiming to be nurses, highlighting the need for regulation.

  • Previous Attempts: In 2021, an amendment to the Health and Care Bill to protect the nurse title was supported by 240 MPs but was voted down by the Conservative Government. With the new Labour Government, there’s hope for passing the legislation.

  • Statistics: A freedom of information request revealed over 8,000 individuals in NHS trusts using the term “nurse” in their job title without having registered nursing qualifications.

  • Proposed Solution: The Bill seeks to amend the Professional Qualifications Act 2022, adding “nurse” to the regulated term “registered nurse,” without affecting other protected titles like veterinary nurse and dental nurse.

  • Professional Support: The Royal College of Nursing supports protecting the “nurse” title, as resolved in their 2022 congress.

  • Examples of Misuse: Several cases were mentioned where individuals misused the nurse title, including Cassandra Grant, who posed as a nurse and was jailed, and Kate Shemirani, who spread misinformation and was struck off but could still call herself a nurse.

  • Legislative Progress: The Bill was ordered to be read for the first time and is scheduled for its second reading on Friday, 28 March.

  • Government Action: Dawn Butler urged the Labour Government to support the Bill as part of their NHS reforms, emphasizing its importance for patient safety and recognition of nurses’ qualifications.

Divisiveness

The session presented shows minimal to no disagreement among the participants. The motion for the Nurse (Use of Title) Bill was proposed by Dawn Butler and was met with unanimous support, as indicated by the phrase ‘Question put and agreed to’ without any recorded opposition or debate from other members. Furthermore, the subsequent procedural motions related to the Water (Special Measures) Bill were also agreed upon without any reported dissent, as shown by ‘Question agreed to’. The absence of any direct quotes or indications of disagreement throughout the transcript underlines the lack of contention within the session. The narrative provided by Dawn Butler focused on the necessity and support for the bill from various stakeholders and the public, reinforcing the overall consensus. Therefore, the session is rated a 1 for disagreement, indicating extremely low levels of dispute.