NMC appoints interim executive director amid ‘challenging times’
The Nursing and Midwifery Council has appointed a new executive director of strategy and insight on an interim basis.
Kuljit Dhillon, who has been appointed on an interim basis for now, is a former assistant director of strategy, planning and inclusion at fellow regulator the General Medical Council.
“These are challenging times for the NMC”
Helen Herniman
Ms Dhillon also previously worked in civil service roles including as deputy director at the Cabinet Office between 2018 and 2021, where she served under prime ministers Theresa May and Boris Johnson.
As well as this, Ms Dhillon has worked in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and at the Government Equalities Office.
She said she was excited to be joining the NMC at what she acknowledged was a “difficult time” for the nursing regulator.
The NMC is currently facing heightened public scrutiny, after the findings of a self-commissioned review into its internal culture were published in July.
This report, compiled by Rise Associates, found a “toxic” culture at the NMC, incidents of racism and fundamental issues in the way fitness to practise cases were being handled.
Kuljit Dhillon
The NMC is also a core participant in the Thirlwall Inquiry, which is looking into the circumstances surrounding the murder of seven children, and attempted murder of six others, by Lucy Letby.
Ms Dhillon said: “This presents a great opportunity to make meaningful, sustainable improvements to the culture of the organisation and in turn how we carry out our regulatory responsibilities.”
She will have responsibility for creating a “safer and more inclusive” working environment at the regulator, in response to the culture review.
As well as this, Ms Dhillon will lead on programmes covering policy, the implementation of a new fitness to practise plan aiming to help clear the backlog, regulatory reform with the DHSC, and the organisation’s response to the Thirlwall Inquiry, UK Covid-19 Inquiry and others.
The NMC said she will also be involved with improving the NMC’s international registration processes, and the “integrity” of the register.
Ms Dhillon replaces Matthew McClelland, who announced his forthcoming departure from the NMC on LinkedIn earlier this year.
Acting NMC chief executive and registrar Helen Herniman said: “These are challenging times for the NMC, and we’re excited about the wealth of experience and expertise that Kuljit will bring to our efforts to foster a safer, more inclusive culture at the NMC.
“She’s also the right person to take forward the important work of our strategy and insight directorate in supporting us to improve the way we regulate, and using our regulatory insight to support wider learning across health and care.”
