The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is facing renewed criticism after it emerged that a psychiatric nurse convicted of rape was able to continue practising for more than a year, despite police alerting the regulator about the allegations.
John Chukwunonso Iwuh, 54, from South Norwood in Croydon, was jailed for 16 years on 11 July after being found guilty of rape and voyeurism.
He had used his position as a nurse to build trust with a woman he met on a dating app before attacking her at his home in June 2022, says The Independent report.
Investigators later discovered that Iwuh had stored nearly 11,000 contacts on his mobile phone, the majority of which were women’s names linked to dating apps.
The Metropolitan Police have urged any further victims to come forward.
It has now been revealed that the Met first informed the NMC of Iwuh’s arrest in September 2022. However, the regulator did not suspend him, allowing him to continue working unrestrictedly.
A second woman came forward in June 2023 with an allegation of rape dating back to April 2022, but again, no action was taken.
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The NMC only opened a formal investigation in October 2023 after being told Iwuh had been charged, and he was not suspended until the following month.
The regulator has admitted it failed to act swiftly and apologised for not informing Iwuh’s employers sooner.
“We recognise that we could – and should – have acted faster, to open our investigation and suspend Mr Iwuh from practice. We also acknowledge that we did not do enough to ensure his employers were aware of the interim suspension order we subsequently issued. For this, we are extremely sorry.”
Two NHS trusts where Iwuh worked shifts, Central and North West London Foundation Trust and Chelsea and Westminster Foundation Trust, have since launched inquiries into his time with them. Both organisations described his crimes as “abhorrent” and pledged to review his patient contact.
The Department of Health and Social Care has also acknowledged the case, stressing that the NMC must learn lessons from the failure.
The revelations add to concerns about the regulator’s ability to protect the public. An independent inquiry in 2023 found the NMC was beset by a toxic culture, mishandling cases involving racism and sexual misconduct.
The organisation has since begun reforms, including the introduction of a safeguarding hub and revised guidance on when suspensions can be applied.
Despite these changes, critics say the case shows systemic failings continue to place patients at risk.
