<p>The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the regulator for nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom working in the public interest to safeguard the health and well-being of the public.</p><p>The NMC is an independent body and responsible for matters concerning the discharge of its statutory duties, including pursuing fitness to practice (FtP) investigations against its registrants. Statistical information about NMC FtP cases is not routinely collected or held centrally. However, departmental officials have contacted the NMC and the following information has been provided.</p><p>As at 30 September 2013, there were 56 FtP cases received by the NMC before January 2011 that were still active.</p><p>As at August 2013, the average time taken by the NMC to (a) investigate FtP cases was 8.4 months and (b) adjudicate FtP cases was 7.1 months.</p><p>The NMC reports that FtP cases are investigated by both legally qualified and non-legally qualified case investigation officers and external law firms. The NMC does not hold statistical information on whether FtP cases are investigated by fully qualified solicitors or barristers.</p><p>As at September 2013, the average time taken by the NMC to resolve a FtP was 15 months.</p>