Appeal success for Nigerian nurse

In 2023, the NMC realised that the Yunnik testing centre in Ibadan, Nigeria, was generating nursing CBT results that were abnormally fast. The centre provided tests that allowed nurses to apply and qualify as UK nurses and so come to the UK and work here.

As a result, all of the test results in that centre over a period of about 4 years were nullified, and the nurses had to re-test. Not only that, the NMC challenged their right to be on the NMC register (if they were registered) or refused their applications (if they were still applicants).

As can be imagined, this involved a large number of African nurses, over 1000.

Several of these are my clients, and slowly the NMC has been listing their cases for the hearings, to decide whether the nurses should remain on the register (or be admitted to the register).

Today, I had my 4th Yunnik hearing, with 1 client successful and two unsuccessful so far. It was an appeal against the refusal of their application for registration.

Despite the best efforts of the NMC case presenter, the panel was persuaded by my client’s comprehensive evidence and our detailed submissions, and granted the appeal - meaning they will be entered into the register as a UK nurse immediately.

This is a fantastic result for the nurse, and for her colleagues who can take comfort in the knowledge that with a well-prepared case, they have a realistic chance of being successful.

N.B. we are about to appeal one of the unsuccessful cases, so we’ll see if we can’t get that success rate a little higher!