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The boss of the UK’s nursing regulator is due to step down due to ill health, as a report on the organisation’s culture is due to be published . Andrea Sutcliffe, chief executive the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which regulates all nurses , midwives and nursing associates in the UK, has announced she will be stepping down at the end of June. The NMC said Ms Sutcliffe is due to have neurosurgery for a benign tumour, which was discovered during a scan, and is stepping down due to the length of the recover after surgery.

Her departure comes after a series of exposés forced the NMC to commission multiple independent reviews into its culture, as well as whistleblower concerns over the way it handles cases against nurses. As reported by The Independent, a secret report alleged that the NMC has a “culture of fear” among staff, making them scared to raise concerns. The first of the reviews into the NMC’s culture more broadly is set to be published next month after being carried out by Nazir Afzal OBE and Rise Associates, who also led the culture review into London Fire Brigade.



Several sources in the organisation have said they expect the Rise Associates review to be “damming”. Barrister Ijeoma Omambala KC is carrying out a review in two parts, looking into the specific concerns and cases raised by the whistleblower. Ms Sutcliffe said in a statement published on Wednesday: “It’s been a great privilege to lead the NMC for the last five years.

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