This Order, which extends to Scotland only, approves the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors (Professional Conduct) (Amendment) Rules 2002 (“the 2002 Rules”), which are set out in the Schedule.

The 2002 Rules amend rules 7, 12 and 29 of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors (Professional Conduct) Rules 1993 (as set out in the Schedule to S.I. 1993/893 and amended as set out in the Schedule to S.S.I. 2001/54).

Rule 7 provides for the Preliminary Proceedings Committee of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (“the Council”). Rule 12 provides for the Professional Conduct Committee of the Council and rule 29 provides for the Health Committee of the Council.

Rules 7(3) and 12(5) enable persons to be appointed as deputy chairpersons of the Preliminary Proceedings Committee and Professional Conduct Committee. These rules are amended so that the appointees need no longer be members of the Council (rule 2(2)(a) and (3)(b)).

Rule 29(2) provides that the Council will appoint persons as members of the Health Committee. This rule is amended to enable the appointment of persons to the committee who are not members of the Council (rule 2(4)(a)).

Rules 7(4), 12(6) and 29(5) enable the appointment of a person to act as chairperson of the respective committees when the chairperson and deputies are not present. The rules are amended to enable the appointment, as acting chairperson, of a person who is not a member of the Council (rule 2(2)(b), (3)(c) and (4)(b)).

The quorum of each of the committees, provided for in rules 7(5), 12(2) and 29(6) respectively, is also amended. The committees were quorate if at least 2 members of the Council constituted a majority of those considering a particular case. The amended rules now provide, in respect of each of these committees, that they are quorate if there are 3 committee members present of whom 1 shall be a member of the Council (rule 2(2)(c), (3)(a) and (4)(c)).