#alternate alternate BBC Homepage * Skip to content * Accessibility Help * Your account * Home * News * Sport * Reel * Worklife * Travel * Future * Culture * MenuMore Search * Home * News * Sport * Reel * Worklife * Travel * Future * Culture * Music * TV * Weather * Sounds (BUTTON) Close menu BBC News Menu * Home * Coronavirus * Climate * Video * World * UK * Business * Tech * Science * Stories * Entertainment & Arts More * Health * World News TV * In Pictures * Reality Check * Newsbeat * Long Reads * England * Regions * Leicester MP Jonathan Ashworth backs calls to protect 'abused' nurse title Published 15 October 2021 (BUTTON) Share (BUTTON) close Share page (BUTTON) Copy link About sharing Nurse Image source, Reuters Image caption, Jon Ashworth said the title of nurse was being "abused" The shadow health secretary has said it is "staggering" there is no law in place to protect the title of nurses. Jon Ashworth, who is also the Leicester South MP, spoke at the annual meeting of the Queen's Nursing Institute. He said some people called themselves nurses even if they were unqualified or had left the profession. The government has said it will consider protecting the title after a petition gained more than 20,000 signatures. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said currently in the UK, anyone can call themselves a nurse, regardless of training or experience. Titles such as doctor, paramedic, midwife and even "registered nurse" are all protected in law. Jonathan Ashworth Image caption, Mr Ashworth said the title should only be used by registered nurses Mr Ashworth said the title of nurse was used by people that had been removed from the official nursing register - including those spreading misinformation about the pandemic. "It's staggering that the title 'nurse' isn't protected in law," he said. "It leads to abuse where non-registered nurses can call themselves nurses and peddle anti-vax nonsense for example. "It's why we are supporting the campaign to safeguard the title 'nurse' in law. "I think it's really important that when we're talking about nurses, we know we're talking about registered nurses." The Nursing and Midwifery Council has also been considering whether the change is needed. Andrea Sutcliffe, chief executive and registrar, said: "We are currently engaging with stakeholders and working with the government to review our protected titles and ensure they are fit for purpose under any new legislation introduced." A government spokesman said: "The protection of a professional titles is important for public protection. "Protecting a title provides assurance to the public that someone using that title is competent and safe to practise." However, he also said protecting the title would be complicated due to the number of professions that use it. Presentational grey line Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. Related Topics * Jonathan Ashworth * Leicester * Nursing More on this story * Speech comparing NHS medics to Nazis condemned Published 25 July 2021 * Labour MP's daughter interrupts TV interview Published 17 May 2021 * Nurse who sold mentally ill mum's home struck off Published 29 September 2020 Related Internet Links * The Nursing & Midwifery Council The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. From other local news sites * The full New Year honours list 2022 as Chris Whitty is knighted External Melton Times * Community charity gives Harborough theatre group the best possible start to 2022 External Harborough Today * Melton debt charity helps 1,000th person in just five years External Melton Times * Police chiefs urge people in Harborough to stay safe tonight as they go out to c... 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