That internal NMC memo no one has seen (it is fictional but only just)

We need to know how to respond to the uproar arising from the RISE report. Here is the plan

1.?? Keep saying how sorry we are – but don’t say we are sorry for causing detriment to those who raised all the concerns the Independent Report corroborates

2.?? Keep saying lessons have been learnt. Keep saying it again and again. And again and again. Remember this is a turning point.

3.?? Keep telling everyone about our detailed plan to do the things we should have done over the previous 5 years (but didn’t)

4.?? Don’t be drawn in to any discussion about why the people who got the NMC into this mess are just the perfect people to get it out of it

5.?? Make sure we cause a bit of panic by quietly implying that if the Chairman resigns this will cause such chaos that the entire regulation of nurses and midwives could be at risk.

6.?? Remind critics that the Chairman has a distinguished diplomatic record as UK ambassador to Japan and we can therefore have full confidence in his ability to duck and dive

7.?? If anyone asks what the NMC Council has been doing, explain they have been very busy looking the other way. There is a slight risk they might not do that at the July 24th Council meeting so make sure we sweet talk them at every opportunity and explain this plan.

8.?? If concerns continue to be raised about how we are spending registrants’ fees, point out we can’t allow nurses and midwives to have a key role in our decision making because that would be registrants marking their own homework

9.?? If any one asks if we are going to personally apologise to all those who raised concerns and were ignored and vilified, assure them we are very sorry (in general) but we can’t let whistleblowers determine the future of the NMC

10. If anyone keep raising the issue of racism repeatedly highlighted in the Independent Report explain we really really are doing our best and we have lots of other things to focus on as well. In any case, our policies make it absolutely crystal clear that equality, diversity and inclusion is a top priority at the NMC – at least they are priorities on our web site.

11. If anyone asks how soon we are going to get to grips with the crisis tell them we have all read the manual on “Kicking it into the Long Grass” – it has worked for years here. It is filed next to our report entitled "It will all soon blow over."

12. If people ask you where is the accountability in our governance explain we have a whole section on our web site about it. You cant just go around holding our leaders to account for every catastrophic mistake they make. There wouldn’t be many of us left.

Important. If anyone suggests we have a plan that looks anything like this one. refer them to our Fitness of Practice processes. That should sort them out.