Excellent progress on a Once for Wales approach to implementation of nursing and midwifery programmes

Plans to implement pre and post registration nursing and midwifery programmes in Wales continue through the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

All but one of the Welsh university nursing programmes have now been approved by the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) following events held during 2019/20. The first cohort of students to embark on the Future nurse pre-registration programmes in Wales will commence in September 2020.

Several Once for Wales 2020 common programme elements developed through key stakeholder engagement across Wales have also been formally ratified during approval events undertaken by the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Return to practice and non-medical prescribing programme approval visits have also commenced across Wales.

HEIW has worked closely with organisations over the last 18 months across Wales to support successful programme outcomes. This co-production has involved substantial partnership working with Universities, Health Boards, independent sector organisations, students, Chief Nursing Office Wales, the Royal College of Nursing and other key stakeholder groups. Preparation work has also been significantly enhanced by service user and carer involvement in engagement events, focus groups and curricula design.

NMC Future Midwife proficiencies were published in October 2019 and Universities and practice partners are considering revised NMC programme approval dates in view of the impact of the pandemic and NMC announcements.

The NMC are also continuing external engagement work on post-registration standards including specialist community public health nursing and the specialist practitioner qualification.

Simon Cassidy (Programme Manager Education Wales at Health Education and Improvement Wales) said:

“Universities and practice learning partners have made significant efforts to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on students’ progression on pre and post registration programmes as well as working towards the regulatory approval of future programmes. This is testament to the dedication and commitment of organisations in Wales to work through the impact of pandemic conditions and support the future workforce.”

The scope of future programmes involves organisations:

• Continuing to map student placement learning opportunities against NMC Future nurse proficiency requirements.
• Carrying out an ongoing review of Health Board placement capacity.
• Delivering preparation programmes for practice supervisors and practice assessors in line with new NMC Standards for student supervision and assessment.

Overview of nursing and midwifery programme approval dates 

Pre-registration nursing

Return to practice

Post registration Non-Medical Prescribing

Pre-registration midwifery 

Universities and practice partners are considering revised programme approval dates in view of a recent NMC Update: Covid-19 25 June 2020. This allows organisations to consider a request for an extension to the deadline for the adoption of Future midwife standards until September 2022.

Specialist community public health nursing/specialist practice qualification

NMC are undertaking external stakeholder engagement between 29 June and 12 August this year about the development of future programmes. Early discussions have included identification of emerging themes across all fields of specialist community health nursing (SCPHN) practice, a draft vision for core SCPHN and consideration of who will feed into drafting of new standards that are core to health visiting, school nursing and occupational health nursing.