NMC closes temporary Covid-19 register

The regulator confirmed that it had officially closed its temporary Covid-19 register for nurses and midwives on 31 March 2024.

“We’re incredibly grateful to every nurse and midwife who joined the Covid-19 temporary register"

Andrea Sutcliffe

Set up in March 2020, the temporary register helped fill workforce gaps during the pandemic by letting former nurses and some internationally qualified nurses work in health and care services across the UK.

It reached a peak of 15,457 professionals in March 2021.

It stopped taking on new registrants in March 2022, after the relevant parts of the government’s Covid-19 legislation expired.

The government then confirmed that all temporary registration would come to an end this year.

As of 29 February 2024, there were 1,049 professionals remaining on the temporary register.

As of the same date, 2,501 professionals had moved across to the permanent register.

During a meeting of the NMC’s governing council last week, council members acknowledged the efforts of those on the temporary register.

Ruth Walker, vice chair of council, argued that if the NMC could keep the 1,049 professionals in employment across health and social care in the UK, it would be “a good thing”.

During the meeting, NMC Council confirmed that it had been communicating regularly with professionals on the register, as well as employers, to make sure everyone was aware that the temporary register was closing.

The NMC said it would continue to support professionals to join the permanent register, should they wish to do so.

Andrea Sutcliffe, chief executive and registrar at the NMC, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to every nurse and midwife who joined the Covid-19 temporary register.

Andrea Sutcliffe

“In the face of fear and uncertainty for all of us, thousands joined the national effort to provide vital support for health and care services.

“As the temporary register ends, it’s important we recognise all those professionals who lent their skills and compassion to protecting people in the most vulnerable circumstances during the peak of the crisis.

“Their selfless efforts will have made a big difference to people’s lives, especially through their contributions to the Covid-19 vaccination campaign.”