Lost Records

I graduated from nursing and midwifery schools in the UK back in the sixties. In order to get certified over here in the US, I requested that the General Nursing Council of England and Wales confirm my certifications. They wrote back saying that over the years records have been lost and they think one of the missing is mine. Now I'm stuck and I don't know what to do. Has anyone been in this situation? How may I tackle this problem?

Have you sought legal advice? This is an apalling predicament. If your records are truly lost you should surely be entitled to compensation.

I wonder if France does a better job with copies of diplomas and transcripts in their nursing council, or however it is called, after 40 years??

:balloons:

Actually, yes.

This is a very beaureaucratic society and everything is stored in triplicate. Anything remotely official has "store indefinitely" stamped all over it.

I am not saying people aren't allowed to make mistakes, but this has serious implications if it impedes somebody's ability to register abroad.

How can it truly impede? The Visa Screen process takes 6 to 8 months so I am sure that something can be solved during that time......................

Trying to sue the government over a lost or misplaced record would result in years of paperwork, I am sure more than she would care to do or spend the money on. Theoretically, all you need is a letter from the Council saying that the record was destroyed and is not available. They just need some type of documentation for their records on the US side.

We are not talking about an individual nursing school. We are talking about the GNC (which became the UKCC which became the NMC). If we lose our original certificates and request replacements we are charged dearly. Same principle.

I'm trying to start my degree and have the same problem. Have you tried the NMC as a way of gaining proof? Mind you, with some unis this isnt enough! Never mind immigration.

And as it stands for me, most of the courses I've done will count for nothing and I'll have to start from scratch which is a real sickner .

When I applied last year to Sheffield University for my transcripts I was told that all transcripts from a certain year and below had been sent to the NMC and they where supposed to be keeping records either on paper or microfilm. I would keep trying with them or have a chat with someone at the university where the training is now done in the area you originally trained at.

Sorry to hear that you are having problems

I have letters of confirmation and copies of registration but it's not enough!

They need a letter stating how many pionts and at what level my training was and when schools of nursing no longer exsist I don't stand a prayer. Especially when you cant find out which school of nursing went to which college or uni. British beurocracy at its best I'm afriad!

Mind you, it might do me the favour in that I'm considering doing my degree in teaching instead of nursing. That's if I have to start from scratch I'm in conversation with the RCN at the moment.

I would keep trying with them or have a chat with someone at the university where the training is now done in the area you originally trained at.

Sorry to hear that you are having problems

WOW! Thanks for the fast replies everybody. :balloons:

Yes, the VisaScreen process here is arduous and bordering on the ridiculous. Oh well... c'est la vie!

I've actually been leaning more towards doing what Silverdragon is suggesting - contacting the hospitals and institutions where I did my program. Hopefully they are as bureaucratic in terms of their record keeping as they are in France (Thanks David). :chuckle Thanks again everyone.