Apply ANHSOP Chairman's suggestion in practice

Guidance on occupational health is to be issued shortly which will cover all these recommendations. Together with the English National Board's new guidelines, this guidance will establish better procedures for selection of student nurses for training, the selection of staff to work on children's wards and the follow up of staff who have a history of excessive absence through sickness.

Please see response to recommendation 1.

NMC guidance requires trainees to tell their education institution of any health conditions on application which might affect their ability to practise safely and effectively. Guidance is also provided for approved education institutions (AEIs). This guidance sets out that AEIs should assess the character and health of prospective students according to their own policies but that AEIs are required to sign a declaration of health and character for their students, in line with the pre-registration nursing and midwifery and nursing associate standards.

The NMC Code of Standards requires registrants and applicants to maintain a level of health needed to carry out their professional role. Health and character are considered on an ongoing basis as part of NMC revalidation process.

HEOPS, the professional association for occupational health professionals, assists national bodies including the General Medical Council and Nursing and Midwifery Council, offers specific guidance on medical fitness standards for Nurse and Midwife Training.

In November 1994, the Secretary of State for Health said that guidance on occupational health was to be issued shortly to cover this recommendation. The Secretary of State said that, together with the English National Board’s new guidelines, this guidance would establish better procedures for selection of student nurses for training, the selection of staff to work on children’s wards and the follow up of staff with a history of excessive absence through sickness.

The Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 (as enacted) provided for the Nursing and Midwifery Council to prescribe the requirements to be met as to the evidence of good health and good character in order satisfy the Registrar that an applicant was capable of safe and effective practice as a nurse.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (Education, Registration ad Registration Appeals) Rules Order of Council 2004 (as enacted) required applicants to make declarations as to their good health and character accompanied (for applicants applying for admission to the register on or within 6 months of completion of a pre-registration programme) by a supporting declaration from their education institution.

Current Nursing and Midwifery Council Guidance requires student nurses and midwifes to tell their education institution about any health conditions when applying to study to be a nurse, midwife or nursing associate, and which affect their ability to practise safely and effectively.

There is no mention of specific requirements for those who have shown sign of psychological disorder.