BAMAN Welcomes Government Call for Evidence on Protecting the Title “Nurse”

The British Association of Medical Aesthetic Nurses (BAMAN) has welcomed the UK Government’s Call for Evidence on proposals to strengthen legal protection for the professional title “Nurse”, describing it as a significant step towards enhancing patient safety, public confidence and professional standards.

As the representative body for nurses working in medical aesthetics, BAMAN will be submitting an organisational response to the consultation to ensure the views and experiences of its members are represented. The Association is also encouraging every BAMAN member to submit an individual response to help shape future legislation affecting the nursing profession.

BAMAN has long supported the Royal College of Nursing’s #ProtectNurse campaign, which has consistently called for the title “Nurse” to receive the same level of legal protection as other regulated healthcare professions. The Association believes that anyone using the title “Nurse” should be appropriately qualified, registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and accountable to the professional standards expected by patients and the public.

Why is this consultation important?

The law already protects a number of professional titles regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, including Registered Nurse, Midwife, Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, and Nursing Associate (in England). It is a criminal offence for someone to falsely claim these protected titles or to falsely represent themselves as being registered with the NMC.

However, the title “Nurse” itself is not currently protected. This means that individuals who are not registered with the NMC, or who were previously registered but are no longer on the register, may still use the title “Nurse” in certain circumstances. The Government believes this can create confusion for patients and the public, who may reasonably assume that anyone describing themselves as a nurse has met nationally recognised education, competency and regulatory standards.

To address this, the Government is proposing to extend legal protection so that only nurses registered with the NMC would be permitted to use the title “Nurse”, including where it forms part of a longer job title. The aim is to strengthen public protection by ensuring that people can have confidence that anyone using the title is a legitimate healthcare professional regulated by the NMC.

The Government also recognises that the word “nurse” is legitimately used in other professions, such as dental nurse, and is therefore seeking evidence on which roles should continue to be exempt from any future legislation. In addition, the consultation asks whether other professional titles associated with nursing, such as Health Visitor, should also become protected, and whether the use of the word “nursing” in job titles should be considered as part of future reforms.

BAMAN’s position

Protecting the title “Nurse” is fundamental to maintaining trust in the profession. Patients have the right to know that when someone introduces themselves as a nurse, they have met nationally recognised standards of education, competence and professional regulation. Strengthening legal protection for the title could help reduce public confusion, reinforce professional accountability and further safeguard patient care.

BAMAN CEO, Gareth Lewis said: “The launch of this Call for Evidence marks a significant milestone for the nursing profession and is a welcome opportunity to strengthen public protection.

“Patients have a right to know that when someone describes themselves as a nurse, they are speaking to a professional who is appropriately qualified, regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and accountable to the highest professional and ethical standards. Protecting the title ‘Nurse’ in law would provide greater clarity for the public, reduce confusion, and strengthen patient safety across healthcare, including the medical aesthetics sector.

“For nurses working in medical aesthetics, legal protection of the title would recognise the education, clinical expertise, and professional accountability that define nursing practice. It would help safeguard the integrity of the profession and reinforce public confidence in those delivering aesthetic treatments.

“As the leading professional association representing nurses working in medical aesthetics, BAMAN has consistently supported initiatives to protect the title ‘Nurse’, including the Royal College of Nursing’s Protect Nurse campaign.”

Have Your Say

BAMAN is encouraging all members to participate by submitting their own response to the Government’s Call for Evidence, alongside contributing to BAMAN’s organisational submission. This is an important opportunity to influence legislation that will shape the future of the nursing profession and strengthen public confidence in those who proudly hold the title of “Nurse.”

Members’ experiences and perspectives will play a vital role in ensuring that the final legislation protects patients while recognising the professionalism, expertise and contribution of registered nurses working across every field of practice.