Consensual Panel Determination...
...Or CPD, as we call it. This is when you essentially agree a plea bargain with the NMC, pleading guilty to all allegations and agreeing the appropriate sanction with them. These agreements can work well, in certain circumstances, as long as the agreement is rubber stamped by a panel - if they don't agree with the sanction, then you are back to fighting your case in front of another panel.
I had a similar situation this week. The agreed sanction was 6 months suspension, in a case where a patient death had been caused. Unfortunately, the panel didn't agree that 6 months was enough - their view was that 12 months was required. We didn't accept that, so the case came back in front of another panel this week.
Due to proper preparation, and a slight shift of direction when the opportunity presented itself, I was able to successfully argue for a conditions of practice order, instead of suspension.This means my nurse is able to continue working and earning as a nurse, when she was expecting to have to sit on the bench for 6 months.I explained to them that often the difference can be made just by attending with a representative - and so it proved this week.