‘Nurse’ to Become a Protected Term Under UK Law

On 12 May 2025, International Nurses Day, it was announced that ‘nurse’ will become a protected term under UK law.

The following was outlined in a government press release entitled ‘Fake nurse crackdown to boost public safety’:

• The title ‘nurse’ will be protected in law
• It will become a criminal offence for people who are not qualified and registered as a nurse, ‘to use the title and mislead the public’
• There will be exemptions for job titles such as ‘veterinary nurse’, ‘dental nurse’ and ‘nursery nurse’.

This announcement was made as part of the government’s Plan for Change initiative. The press release states that this move is intended to ‘help to boost protections and safety for both patients and staff, driving up standards and improving patient experience across the NHS’.

Anyone can call themselves a nurse in the UK

At present, anyone can call themselves a nurse in the UK. This includes people with no nursing or medical qualifications whatsoever, as well as those struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for serious misconduct or criminal convictions. 

This is clearly dangerous and misleading; it can also lead to a lack of trust in nurses, by devaluing their profession. Genuine nurses have to undergo years of training, maintain their NMC registration and successfully complete mandatory revalidation every three years. People simply calling themselves a ‘nurse’ are missing this vital background knowledge and experience. But how would a patient know the difference?

The government highlighted how this discrepancy can ‘result in the public thinking they’re getting advice and care from an expert professional like a nurse when they aren’t.

‘Previous reported examples of the job title being misused include someone calling herself a nurse at a large public event after being struck off and another reportedly masquerading as an aesthetic nurse.’

Currently only the title ‘registered nurse’ is protected in law. 

The incoming legislation is likely to make this ‘protection of title’ offence, a summary offence. This means that, where a person is found guilty of an offence on summary conviction, they will be issued a fine.  

According to the Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, “Only the title “registered nurse” is currently protected in law. The new legislation will change that - ensuring that only those individuals registered with the NMC can legally use the title. Anyone violating this will be committing a criminal offence and could face a hefty fine running into the thousands of pounds.”

Protection for the title ‘nurse’ expected in coming months

The government has advised that this legislative change ‘will be implemented within this Parliament’. 

This follows The Nurse (Use of Title) Bill of February 2025, which was sponsored by Labour MP, Dawn Butler. Butler introduced this after her attempts to introduce an amendment to the Health and Care Bill in 2021 to protect the title 'nurse' were rejected by the government at the time.  

Currently at the second reading stage in the House of Commons, there are many more steps for this to pass through before it can be enshrined in law. 

However, thanks to powerful lobbying from various nursing groups, including the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), and cross-party support, it’s likely this will move quickly through the necessary stages.

The exact timeline will depend on the parliamentary process, but the commitment has now been made publicly, so the wheels are in motion.

How is the aesthetics industry involved in this ‘nurse’ terminology issue? 

The aesthetics industry has brought the issue to the forefront due to the number of non-medic or struck-off healthcare professionals providing aesthetics treatments under the guise of being an ‘aesthetic nurse’.

The British Association of Medical Aesthetic Nurses (BAMAN) was a key figure in leading the charge for ‘nurse’ to become a protected term. Calls for regulation were backed by The Mirror newspaper’s Ban the Cosmetic Cowboys campaign, which spotlighted lay aesthetic practitioners using the term ‘nurse’.

Today, Wes Streeting, MP, said: “Nurses carry out lifesaving work every day, and I am determined we do everything we can to support them and safeguard trust in the profession. I’ve been appalled to read reports of so-called nurses spreading dangerous misinformation and harming the public. This new legislation will help crack down on bogus beauticians and conspiracy theorists masquerading as nurses, and those attempting to mislead patients.  

“There have been previous reports of bogus nurses misleadingly using the title. One ran a cosmetic clinic offering Botox and dermal filler treatments for several years despite not being registered with the NMC. Another gave a speech at a Covid conspiracy rally which likened NHS nurses and doctors to war criminals – spreading misinformation about vaccines and bringing her former colleagues into disrepute. She continued to call herself a nurse despite being struck off by the NMC.” 

Reinforces the legitimacy and standards of aesthetic nurses

Dr Tristan Mehta, Founder & CEO of Harley Academy, said: “I’m pleased to see the government moving to protect the title ‘nurse’ in law because it reinforces public trust, professional accountability, and patient safety. This applies not just in aesthetics, but across all healthcare settings.

“When someone is referred to as a ‘nurse’, patients should be confident they are interacting with a registered, regulated professional. Without legal protection, the term can be misused by individuals with no nursing qualification. This deeply misleading — especially in clinical contexts like aesthetics where patient safety is paramount.

“In the medical aesthetics space, there’s growing public confusion between regulated healthcare professionals and unqualified injectors. Protecting the term “nurse” helps reinforce the legitimacy and standards upheld by aesthetic nurses — many of whom have advanced training and adhere to medical codes of ethics. It draws a much-needed line between clinical care and the commercialised beauty industry.

“When professional titles are misused, it erodes trust in healthcare generally. Legal protection helps preserve the credibility of nursing as a profession, ensuring the public continues to seek safe, evidence-based care — whether in hospitals, GP practices, or aesthetic clinics.

“Everyone here at Harley Academy is proud to support cosmetic nurses in building safe, meaningful careers through evidence-based aesthetics training. We welcome this step to protect the title ‘nurse’ in law. It’s a recognition of the professionalism, accountability, and clinical integrity that qualified nurses bring to aesthetic medicine, and it helps ensure patients can trust the hands they’re in.”

A timeline of the fight to make ‘nurse’ a protected term in the UK

Whilst the Bill may have been introduced in early 2025, the battle to introduce this legal protection has been a long journey.

Here are some of the key dates…

• In the late 19th century, the nursing profession began to formalise. This brought about concerns regarding unqualified individuals providing care and using the title 'nurse'. Organisations including the British Nurses' Association (BNA), founded in 1887 by Ethel Gordon Fenwick, became key advocates for state registration to protect the public and the profession
• Midwives Registration Act 1902: This act provided legal recognition and regulation for midwives, serving as a precedent for the nursing profession
• House of Commons Select Committee (1904-1905): A select committee was established to consider the registration of nurses, ultimately recommending its introduction. However, the government didn't take immediate action
• Multiple Private Members' Bills (early 1900s): Various attempts were made to introduce legislation for nurse registration through Private Members' Bills, but none gained sufficient parliamentary support
• The Nurses Registration Act 1919: Post World War I, after decades of campaigning, the Nurses Registration Act was finally passed. This act established the General Nursing Council (GNC) and the first professional register for nurses in England and Wales. Similar acts were passed for Scotland and Ireland
• Nurses Act 1943: This act made registration compulsory for nurses working in certain settings, strengthening the legal standing of the profession
• The Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979: This act led to the establishment of the United Kingdom Central Council (UKCC), replacing the GNC and other regulatory bodies, and created a unified professional register
• Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001: This order dissolved the UKCC and established the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as the current regulatory body for nurses and midwives in the UK. While the title 'registered nurse' was protected, the general title 'nurse' remained vulnerable
• Early 2020s #ProtectNurse Campaign: Led by figures such as Professor Alison Leary, a vocal campaign emerged, raising awareness of the issue and calling for legal protection of the title 'nurse'.  
• NMC Calls for Discussion (June 2021): The NMC formally called for discussions with the Department of Health and Social Care on protecting the title 'nurse', citing concerning cases and the need to safeguard the public
• Attempts Through Parliament (2021): Labour MP Dawn Butler attempted to introduce an amendment to the Health and Care Bill in 2021 to protect the title 'nurse'. The government at the time did not accept this and the need for clarity was acknowledged
• Royal College of Nursing Congress (2022): The RCN passed a resolution in favour of legally protecting the title 'nurse', making it a key priority in their advocacy work
• Ten Minute Rule Bill (February 2025): Dawn Butler MP again introduced a Ten Minute Rule Bill in Parliament specifically focused on legally protecting the title 'nurse'. This bill aimed to ensure that only NMC-registered nurses could use the title 'nurse' in health and social care settings. This Nurse (Use of Title) Bill had a Second Reading scheduled for March 2025, although its progress has not been updated further on the parliamentary website
• Government Confirmation (12 May 2025): On International Nurses Day 2025 it was confirmed that the government has now committed to bringing forward legislation to legally protect the title 'nurse'. The specifics of the bill and its parliamentary journey are yet to be fully outlined, but this confirmation marks a significant breakthrough following years of campaigning and discussion.  

Further updates to come

As medical professionals, we all understand the critical role that nurses play in delivering high-quality care. This applies whether they’re working in the NHS or as private aesthetic nurse practitioners. 

Today’s announcement of legal protection reinforces that understanding at a societal level. It ensures that the title 'nurse' carries the weight and authority it deserves. ‘Nurse’ should reflect the skill, knowledge and dedication of the individuals who have earned this title.

So, while we await the precise details and the implementation date, we can take heart in this significant step forward. It's a move that will ultimately benefit our patients, the nursing profession, and the integrity of the healthcare system as a whole. Let's continue to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and support this crucial development as it moves towards becoming a reality. We also hope that the government’s response is a precursor to imminent strides in regulating the aesthetic medicine sector. 

We will update you further on this story and news on aesthetics regulation plus the proposed aesthetics licensing scheme for England, as it happens. 

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All information correct at time of publication