The regulator has frozen its registration fee since 2015, helping registrants during the cost-of-living crisis and a period of high inflation. However, the decade-long freeze in the fee has led to a 28% real terms reduction in income for the NMC, in comparison to where it would have been if the fee had kept pace with inflation, equating to about £180m in lost income up to the end of the current financial year.
If an increase in the fee takes place it would be the first rise for a decade – with any increase in the fee being used to invest in critical change and improvement programmes, as part of the ongoing transformation of the NMC.
The consultation on increasing the fee would follow the publication on 9 October of the NMC's decision to propose an internal restructure and reduce 145 roles – equating to 10% of its headcount – as part of a cost-saving programme.
Paul Rees, chief executive and registrar, said: ‘If there is an increase in the registration fee, we will use the increased funding to pay for the ongoing transformation of the NMC – as we gradually improve Fitness to Practise; work to improve education and standards; fix our culture and embed equity, diversity and inclusion, including becoming an anti-racist organisation.
‘The changes we are making will enable us to meet our core priorities of protecting the public, maintaining confidence in the nursing and midwifery professions and upholding the standards of proficiency.'
Rees added: ‘If the consultation goes ahead, we will encourage everyone to share their thoughts on the fee changes. Whether you are a nurse, midwife or nursing associate on our register, a student, a member of the public or someone involved in the wider health and social care sector, we would be keen to hear your thoughts.'
Responding to the news, Unison head of health Helga Pile, said: ‘Forcing nurses and midwives to pay higher fees simply to do their jobs when inflation and food prices squeeze their earnings is unfair.
‘Any increase will place an extra financial burden on an already undervalued and underpaid nursing workforce.
‘This comes only days after the NMC announced redundancies. Those on the register will understandably question their confidence in the regulator.'
