The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has appointed regulatory firm Capsticks to work on investigations of allegations regarding fitness to practise.

The London-based firm, which competed in a beauty parade for the appointment, has placed Daniel Purcell as the relationship partner leading the team working on the exercise.

“Working in partnership with the NMC will help to consolidate our position as leaders in regulation,” said Purcell. “It’s a key strategic win for the firm.”

NMC interim director of fitness to practise Liz McLean said: “Capsticks’ knowledge and experience of the NHS, combined with the skills and expertise they provide, enhance our capacity to change our own practices and respond better to ever-increasing demands.”

The NMC, which registers 682,000 nurses and midwives in the UK, had previously used Newcastle-based Ward Hadaway and Morgan Cole.

The NMC brought in McLean last November to streamline its fitness to practise work and to reduce its backlog of fitness to practise hearings.

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