The Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors (Periodic Registration) Amendment Rules Approval Order 1995

Explanatory Note

(This Note is not part of the Order)

This Order gives effect to the amendment by the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting of rules governing the registration of nurses, midwives and health visitors. To date, registration has been renewable on a three yearly basis upon payment, by nurses and health visitors, of a fee only. The amendments effected introduce additional requirements on all nurses, midwives and health visitors seeking renewal of their registration and create a system by which continuing education will be required to be undertaken by all practitioners throughout their period of registration.

Failure to undertake the appropriate continuing education, and to practise for the minimum period specified, will lead to the lapsing of practitioners' registration and the need for compliance with specified educational requirements in order to entitle practitioners to be readmitted to the register.

In consequence, the Order specifies that all practitioners who, over any 5 year period, practise for less than the minimum period specified, will, in order to retain or regain their registration, be required to complete a return to practice course and, in this respect, rule 6 is also amended to require completion of a similar course by all practitioners who do not seek admission to the register within 5 years of qualifying.

Rule 37 is amended to eliminate the current requirement for midwives to complete refresher courses, which will, by 2001, be replaced by the return to practice courses.