Complaints

The Board investigates complaints against nurses, registered midwife and/or Advanced Practice Nurse.

Any complaint against nurse, midwife or Advanced Practice Nurse should be submitted in writing, whereby a nurse, a registered midwife or an Advanced Practice Nurse –

1. has obtained his registration as a registered nurse or registered midwife, enrolment as an enrolled nurse or certification as an Advanced Practice Nurse fraudulently or by a materially incorrect statement;

2. has had his registration or enrolment as a nurse, registration as a midwife or certification as an Advanced Practice Nurse, in a territory outside Singapore, cancelled or suspended;

3. has been convicted of an offence in Singapore or elsewhere which in the opinion of the Board renders him unfit to remain on the Register or the Roll or to practise as an Advanced Practice Nurse;

4. has been guilty of any misconduct, or negligence, which in the opinion of the Board renders him unfit to remain on the Register or the Roll or to practise as an Advanced Practice Nurse;

5. is unable to perform satisfactorily the functions of a registered nurse, an enrolled nurse, a registered midwife or an Advanced Practice Nurse because of a mental or physical disability.

The complainant must state the full facts of his case and his allegations clearly in his letter of complaint against any nurse, midwife or Advanced Practice Nurse. The name and contact details of the complainant, the grounds of the complaint and the evidence supporting the complaint should be clearly stated as well.

The Board may appoint one or more committees, to be known as Complaints Committee/s, to investigate any complaint or information in respect of any of the following matters:

1. the conviction of a registered nurse, enrolled nurse, registered midwife or Advanced Practice Nurse of an offence which renders him unfit to remain on the Register or Roll or to practise as an Advanced Practice Nurse;

2. any misconduct, or negligence, of a registered nurse, enrolled nurse, registered midwife or Advanced Practice Nurse which renders him unfit to remain on the Register or Roll or to practise as an Advanced Practice Nurse; or

3. the physical or mental fitness of a registered nurse, enrolled nurse, registered midwife or Advanced Practice Nurse to perform his functions.

The Complaints Committee may conduct formal inquiry on the complaint against a registered nurse, enrolled nurse, registered midwife or Advanced Practice Nurse and submit its report and recommendations to the Board.

Under section 19(2) of the Nurses and midwives Act, the Board may exercise any one or more of the powers where applicable to:

1. cancel the registration of a registered nurse (including an Advanced Practice Nurse) or registered midwife or the enrolment of an enrolled nurse;

2. suspend the registration of a registered nurse (including an Advanced Practice Nurse) or registered midwife or the enrolment of an enrolled nurse for a period of not more than 2 years;

3. order that the registration of a registered nurse (including an Advanced Practice Nurse) or
   registered midwife or the enrolment of an enrolled nurse be conditional on his compliance with such conditions as may be imposed by the Board;

4. impose on the registered nurse, enrolled nurse, registered midwife or Advanced Practice Nurse, as the case may be, a financial penalty not exceeding $2,000;

5. censure the registered nurse, enrolled nurse, registered midwife or Advanced Practice Nurse, as the case may be; or

6. issue to the registered nurse, enrolled nurse, registered midwife or Advanced Practice Nurse, as the case may be, a written warning.

The Board shall notify the respondent concerned and the person who made the complaint or gave the information, if any, of its decision.

Any person who is aggrieved by a decision of the Board under section 19(2) or (2A) may, within 3 months of the date of the decision or within such further period as the High Court may allow, appeal to the Court against the decision.

There shall be no appeal from a decision of the High Court.