The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has admitted to significant regulatory failures, allowing over a dozen nurses and midwives who should have been banned from practice to continue working for up to 12 years. This lapse occurred because the NMC did not consistently refer health and character declarations to an assistant registrar for assessment. Following the emergence of these issues in February, the NMC is now reviewing more than 18,000 applications and contacting over 400 practitioners for further information. The NMC has publicly apologized for this oversight, labeling it as 'completely and utterly unacceptable.' Professor Lynn Woolsey, chief nursing officer of the Royal College of Nursing, emphasized the potential dangers of such regulatory failings and called for an independent investigation, stating that the NMC's vague apology is insufficient. NMC chief executive Paul Rees acknowledged the organization has faced challenges, including systemic issues like bullying and harassment, which were highlighted in a recent independent review.