The Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979 (c. 36) was an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom. It received royal assent in April 1979.[1]
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to establish a Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, and National Boards for the four parts of the United Kingdom; to make new provision with respect to the education, training, regulation and discipline of nurses, midwives and health visitors and the maintenance of a single professional register; to amend an Act relating to the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work; and for purposes connected with those matters. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 1979 c. 36 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 4 April 1979 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repeals/revokes | |
Status: Current legislation | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
It led to the establishment of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC) and national boards for each country of the UK, to be responsible for education, training, regulation and disciplinary action of nurses, midwives and health visitors.[2][3]
The Act was developed by a committee established to implement the recommendations of the Briggs Report of 1972. It was finally implemented in July 1983.[4]
The 1979 Act superseded the Midwives Act 1902 and led to the replacement of the Central Midwives Board.[2] Midwives such as Brenda Mee fought to ensure that midwives would be the majority on each midwifery committee, and that their views would be represented when proposals were put forward concerning midwifery.[4]
There were subsequent Acts in 1992 and 1997. The Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1992 established that investigation of misconduct was the responsibility of the UKCC and not the national boards.[5] The Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1997 made adjustments to the structure and composition of the UKCC.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "ROYAL ASSENT (Hansard, 4 April 1979)". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979". Policy Navigator. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979". Legislation.gov.uk. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ a b "The Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act: Nursing Notes, November 1979". Midwives Chronicle: The Heritage Blog of the Royal College of Midwives. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1992 (repealed 19.6.1997)". Legislation.gov.uk.
- ^ "Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1997". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2023.