All too often nurses are not only dismissed, unfairly, but they are then subjected to the two hammer blows of a DBS referral and a referral to the NMC.

A recent client faced exactly this, with a dismissal for matters involving a patient death, and threatened referral to both DBS and the NMC.

They came to me for help in defending against both referrals. I advised them to appeal the dismissal and to seek instead a non-dismissal outcome, which would avoid the referrals.

We challenged the dismissal on several grounds and were successful in overturning the decision to dismiss. My client remains employed and able to look for employment elsewhere in their own time.

The effect of a dismissal on a nurse can be ripple outwards. causing devastation in all aspects of the nurse’s professional life. Most appeal periods last 7 days - so swift action is needed. Luckily, we were able to respond in time in this case.