New interim chief executive of Nursing and Midwifery Council resigns 4 days after appointment

Staff concerns and past controversies prompt sudden departure from the new role at Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

In the latest development, Dawn Brodrick CB has decided to step down from her recently announced position as the Interim Chief Executive and Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), only four days after her appointment.

Brodrick was set to lead the NMC while the council searched for a permanent successor to Andrea Sutcliffe, who is stepping down on July 4 due to ill health.

Previously, Brodrick served as the Chief People Officer at the Crown Prosecution Service, and her career includes roles such as Chief People Officer at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Director of People and Change for the Department of Communities and Local Government.

Upon her appointment, Brodrick expressed enthusiasm for the role, stating, "I understand that I will be joining the NMC at a challenging time.

"I'm passionate about working with people to create positive cultural change and supporting organisations through improvements.

"I hope that my 30 years of experience will help to impact NMC colleagues, nursing and midwifery colleagues, stakeholders, and the public for the better."

However, on Tuesday, the NMC updated its announcement, revealing that Brodrick "has subsequently decided that she will not be taking up the role." The council did not disclose the reason behind this sudden change.

The NMC, which oversees the regulation of nursing and midwifery professions in the UK, is currently navigating a challenging period marked by efforts to improve regulatory and fitness to practice processes.

The organisation is also awaiting the results of an independent review of its culture, including investigations into its handling of whistleblowing concerns and related fitness to practice cases.

According to a news report by The Independent, Brodrick's resignation is linked to staff concerns over her previous role as head of HR at King’s College Hospital.

In 2018, the hospital was ordered to pay £1 million to IT manager Richard Hastings after a tribunal found he was unfairly dismissed and subjected to racial discrimination.

The disciplinary process was criticized for bias and failure to address Hastings' allegations of racial abuse.

Despite initially defending Brodrick's appointment and emphasizing its due diligence, the NMC faced growing internal discontent and external criticism, leading to her resignation.

This development comes ahead of a major review into an alleged "culture of fear" within the NMC, expected next week, following whistleblower reports.

Roger Kline, an NHS race discrimination expert, criticised the NMC's decision to appoint Brodrick, told The Independent:

"The decision by the NMC Council to appoint as chief executive someone whose track record on race discrimination was so open to challenge was a serious mistake."

He emphasised the need for new leadership capable of changing the culture, challenging bullying and racism, and gaining the confidence of staff and registrants to create an NMC fit for purpose for patients.

The NMC will provide an update on the new interim Chief Executive and Registrar later this week.