Regulator’s ‘failings’ to be probed during inquest into death of nurse Amelia Morten-Scott

A coroner is set to probe whether “failings” by the UK’s nursing regulator caused or contributed to the death of a nurse who was under investigation by the watchdog,The Independent can reveal.

The actions of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) will be probed by the coroner for Somerset, Mr Stephen Covell, in relation to the death of 34-year-old nurse Amelia Morten-Scott.

Ms Morten-Scott died in October 2023. The cause of her death will be examined by a full inquest later this year.

During a pre-inquest hearing on Tuesday, it was revealed that, at the time of her death, Ms Morten-Scott was subject to a fitness to practice investigation by the NMC.

Coroner Covell said it was appropriate for the inquest to examine both the “actions and omissions” in relation to the NMC’s investigation, as well as any impact delays in the probe may have had on her mental state.

The findings of an internal report carried out by the NMC into its actions following Ms Morten-Scott’s death will also feature as part of the scope of the inquest.

The coroner has not ruled yet on any findings, only the scope of the inquest.

Ms Morten-Scott’s inquest comes two years after the publication of damning independent investigation into the NMC’s culture, prompted by a series of exposés from The Independent.

The investigation, chaired by former public prosecutor Nazir Afzal, found a “toxic” culture and “dysfunction” that was putting both nurses and the public at risk. The NMC regulates more than 800,000 nurses, midwives and nursing associates in the UK.

The scope for the inquest, as set out by the coroner, said: “The scope of the inquest should cover primarily Amelia’s actions, her contact with others, and her apparent mental state in the month leading up to her being discovered deceased in her flat on 30 October 2023.

“Included within the scope of the inquest will be a consideration of what factors may have caused or contributed to Amelia’s apparent actions to end her life. It is in the interest of Amelia’s family and the public that there should be consideration of whether the fitness to practice investigation by the NMC which concluded in early June 2023, was one of those factors.”

Coroner Covell said he would also consider any delays or breaches of procedure or guidance.

The NMC’s representative asked the court for the scope of the inquest to be limited to exclude any delays identified in the fitness to practice hearing.

However, in his ruling on Tuesday, Coroner Covell said: “I consider part of the substantial truth of Amelia’s case will need consideration of not only the fact that Amelia was subject to a fitness to practice investigation but also whether the delays and any other acts or omissions which have been highlighted in the NMC’s investigation into the fitness to practice investigation that was carried out, caused or contributed, [more than minimally] to Amelia’s mental health and to her taking her own life.”

He added that the scope “will not extend to conducting the coroner’s own investigation into how the NMC carried out its investigation into the FTP, but will consider, and also the expert evidence will consider the extent to which failings already highlighted in the evidence of the NMC caused or contributed to the mental state and may have contributed to Amelia taking her own life.”

An NMC spokesperson said: “The loss of Amelia is a tragedy, and we offer our sincere condolences to her family and friends. We’re committed to assisting the coroner to determine the circumstances of Amelia’s death, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for us to comment further while the inquest is ongoing.”

The full inquest will take place at a later date.