They have also signalled that long-standing roles such as dental nurse will likely need more specifics to continue using the word.
The title of dental nurse is currently protected under the Dentists Act 1984, and anyone using it must be registered with the General Dental Council. The new work sits alongside that, asking a broader question about who should be entitled to call themselves a “nurse” once wider protection comes in.
At present, only “registered nurse” is protected under law, along with midwife, specialist community public health nurse and, in England, nursing associate. Solely the word “nurse” is not covered. The government’s concern is that people who are not qualified, registered, or otherwise entitled can still describe themselves as a nurse, which risks giving patients a false impression of someone’s training and putting them at harm.
The Department of Health and Social Care wants to make it a criminal offence for anyone not registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council to call themselves a nurse, including where the word sits inside a longer job title.
Where dental nurses fit in
The term “nurse’ already appears as a part of several established professional titles, dental nurse among them. The government has been clear it does not want to criminalise the legitimate uses of the word in those settings, but rather to ensure that liberties are not being taken in order to protect the public against dilution.
Even so, dental nurses are among those being encouraged to respond, to make sure the exemption is written cleanly and the title is protected from any unintended consequences.
Have your say
The call for evidence runs for 10 weeks and closes at 11:59pm on 8 October 2026. The department is seeking views from a wide range of voices, including the public, regulators, the Royal College of Nursing, trade unions, employers, the higher education sector, and charities, as well as any other sector where “nurse” forms part of a professional title. Views are also being sought from Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
>Since you’re here, why not read about the impact of noise on Parkinson’s and oral health?
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