NMC’s new chief executive resigns following backlash

Dawn Brodrick was set to formally take on the role at the NMC on 4 July but has already resigned after concerns were raised about her appointment.

“The NMC needs new leadership that is truly capable of changing the culture, challenge bullying [and] racism and create an NMC fit for purpose”

Ann Keen

She was due to replace Andrea Sutcliffe, who stepped down due to ill health.

The Independent reported this morning that staff had come forward following Ms Brodrick’s appointment, concerned that the NMC’s board would not take the issue of racism seriously.

It comes as Ms Brodrick was previously chief people officer at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust when it was found to have discriminated against a Black employee.

Richard Hastings, an IT manager at the trust, was dismissed for gross misconduct in October 2015 after he was accused of assault following a dispute in his workplace car park.

A tribunal later found that he was unfairly dismissed and suffered racial discrimination. Mr Hastings was later awarded £1m.

The NMC had originally defended the appointment of Ms Brodrick, claiming that it was “confident in its due diligence process”.

However, the regulator confirmed to Nursing Times today that Ms Brodrick had stepped down.

Sir David Warren, chair of the NMC Council, said: “Last week we announced the appointment of Dawn Brodrick CB as the interim chief executive and registrar.

“Dawn has subsequently decided that she will not be taking up the role.

“We will update on our arrangements for an interim chief executive and registrar later this week.”

The row has come ahead of the publication of a major review into the NMC’s culture, which is due to be released next week.

The review, led by solicitor Nazir Afzal and consultancy firm Rise Associates, has promised to be the most rigorous assessment of culture at the NMC to date.

Last week, a blog post authored by research fellow Roger Kline and former health minister and nurse, Ann Keen, outlined concerns about Ms Brodrick’s appointment.

The blog said it was “astonishing” that the due diligence of the NMC did not regard Ms Brodrick’s association to the NHS race discrimination case as a potential concern.

Roger Kline

Today, Mr Kline told Nursing Times: “There was no secret that Dawn Brodrick worked at King’s.

“There was no secret about this case – it’s high profile and it’s one of the eight cases in our recent report Too Hot to Handle.

“The NMC now needs leadership that can learn from its mistakes, and which is prepared to tackle the failings of governance and tackling bullying and racism that is going to come out in the reports that are imminent.”

Mr Kline said whoever was appointed as the next interim chief executive and registrar must be someone who could “speak truth to power” and who understood the importance of treating all staff with respect.

He said: “The accounts I’ve had from people inside the NMC paint a pretty desperate picture of bullying and racism, quite deeply embedded.

“So it needs to be somebody who understands that how you treat staff in this sort of job, you have to treat them how you say you want patients treated – with respect, compassion and equity.”

Ann Keen

Meanwhile, Ms Keen said Ms Brodrick’s resignation was “welcome”.

“The NMC needs new leadership that is truly capable of changing the culture, challenge bullying [and] racism and create an NMC fit for purpose,” she noted.

“I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, all staff within the NMC, from King’s College Hospital and thank every nurse and midwife from the frontline to senior level who helped achieve this outcome.”