New upgrades to the technology used in the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Fitness to Practise hearings aim to improve accessibility and enable more timely proceedings.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has completed an upgrade of all 18 hearing rooms at its sites in London and Edinburgh as it continues to modernise its regulatory processes. The aim of the upgrades is both to improve accessibility for the people involved and to enable more timely proceedings.

It has introduced a mixture of wired and wireless microphones to improve the quality of digital audio recordings. Microsoft Teams has been integrated to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of hybrid hearings. Larger TVs have been installed to enable remote attendees to be clearly seen and increase reliability. And a hearing loop system has also been installed so that those with hearing aids can hear clearly.

“As we continue to build a new NMC, it’s vital that our technology and processes are accessible and fit for the future for everyone who engages with us. This is especially important when it comes to Fitness to Practise Adjudications processes, which we know can be distressing, and we don’t want people to be further impacted by technical issues,” said deputy director of professional regulation Glenn Mathieson. 

“That’s why we’re investing in our hearing rooms to improve both the experience and timeliness for all involved. Our new upgrades will help ensure the smooth continuity of proceedings and enable more timely outcomes. We’re committed to improving and innovating our services so that FtP becomes a faster and fairer process for everyone.”

Since the NMC began rolling out its upgrades in April, it said that it has received positive feedback, including from panel members who have noted the smoother running of hybrid hearings, while NMC hearing coordinators have been able to set up and resume hearings more quickly.