Robin Swann MP welcomes government move to legally protect ‘nurse’ title

Robin Swann speaking at a Nursing Now NI event

Robin Swann MP has welcomed a significant step by the Government to bring forward legislation that would make the job title ‘nurse’ legally protected.

The move comes in response to longstanding calls from nursing bodies and campaigners, including the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and Dawn Butler MP, who have advocated for stricter regulation around the use of the title to better protect the public and preserve the integrity of the profession.

Currently, while the title ‘registered nurse’ is protected under UK law, the term ‘nurse’ remains unregulated—allowing individuals without professional nursing qualifications or registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to use the designation.

Robin Swann, MP for South Antrim and former Northern Ireland Health Minister, recently endorsed an Early Day Motion (EDM) in Parliament, which highlighted growing concerns around this issue.

The motion urges the Government to act, noting:

“… the job title of nurse is not currently a legally protected term, despite the high levels of public trust placed in the profession; further notes that, while the title of registered nurse is protected, the widespread and unregulated use of the term nurse by individuals without appropriate qualifications and registration on parts one and two of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register poses a serious risk to patient safety and undermines the integrity of the profession…”

The motion, part of the wider Protect Nurse campaign, enjoys the backing of professional bodies, patient safety advocates, trade unions and the RCN. It also recognises legitimate uses of similar titles in other regulated sectors, stating:

“…supports the Protect Nurse campaign backed by professional bodies, patient safety organisations, unions and the Royal College of Nursing; believes exemptions should apply for the use of the designations such as veterinary nurse and dental nurse; and calls on the Government to support the Nurse (Use of Title) Bill in the name of the hon. Member for Brent East to include nurse as a protected professional title, thereby ensuring that only those registered on part one and two of the NMC registers may legally use the term.”

Commenting on the Government’s positive response, Mr Swann said:

“Nurses are so fundamental and essential to our health service. I know how hard they work and how invaluable they are – that’s why that title must be protected and regulated.

“I’m very pleased that the Government have agreed, and that they are to take forward a bill to protect our nurses and their title. I’d encourage every MP to back this important legislation, and I thank the Royal College of Nurses for the hard work which they have done to bring this issue to the fore.”

The proposed Nurse (Use of Title) Bill, sponsored by Dawn Butler MP, aims to close a loophole that campaigners argue poses serious risks to patients and erodes the trust placed in qualified professionals.

The Bill would align the use of ‘nurse’ with other protected healthcare titles, such as ‘paramedic’ or ‘physiotherapist’, which cannot be used without the requisite training and registration.

The RCN has long warned that misuse of the title allows for misleading job roles and undermines public confidence in the profession. The Government’s commitment to enshrining legal protection for the term has therefore been hailed as a major victory for nurses, patients, and public accountability.

If passed, the legislation will mark a historic moment for the profession, reaffirming its standing as one of the most trusted and vital elements of the UK’s health and care system.