Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of revalidation procedures upon retention of qualified nurses in the UK; and whether any comparative studies have been carried out in respect of nurses working in the USA.

Revalidation supports public protection by requiring nurses, nursing associates and midwives to demonstrate their ability to practise safely and effectively throughout their career. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requires registrants to revalidate every three years by submitting a range of evidence demonstrating their skills and adherence to the NMC Code of professional standards and behaviours.

As the independent regulator of nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom and nursing associates in England, the NMC is responsible for nurse revalidation. The Department has not carried out any comparative studies in respect of nurses working in the United States of America.