It's hell in the NMC hearing centre in East London at the moment.  The other London hearing centre at Aldwych has closed permanently, meaning that all hearings are being squeezed into the Stratford centre.  This has resulted in no available consultation rooms, a waiting area that evokes thoughts of a cattle market and increased stress and pressure for registrants, their witnesses and representatives.

However the hearings keep coming and yesterday was the turn of my client and their restoration application.  They were struck off in 2002, and despite a discouraging couple of attempts to return to the register over 10 years ago, they had continued to work in the healthcare profession and to hope that one day, they would succeed in practising as a nurse again.

The first two attempts at restoration were made unrepresented.  Wisely, after having completed and submitted the application form, they decided that she needed represention this time.

I advised them on the conduct of their case, to include adjustments to be made to their documents, and prepared them generally for the hearing.

The panel heard our case including my final arguments as to why my client should be restored to the register, and at the end of a long day, the desired result was given - restoration granted!My client was so happy that I believe they may even have floated home, and the panel came up to me afterwards and congratulated me on a case well presented.