On 29 January 2026 the High Court handed down its judgment in K Hannigan v Nursing and Midwifery Council [2026] EWHC 62 (Admin), in which Louisa acted for the Appellant. Nurse Hannigan had been suspended by the NMC following findings of misconduct and impairment of her fitness to practice – Louisa represented the Registrant in those regulatory proceedings, instructed by the Royal College of Nursing union. Following the decision, Louisa identified serious issues and agreed to assist Ms Hannigan with pursuing an appeal to the High Court, on a direct access basis. Louisa subsequently brought in Gordon’s Partnership solicitors and represented the Appellant in the High Court in November 2025.
Louisa drafted Grounds of Appeal and the NMC conceded that the appeal was well-founded and the decision could not stand. Louisa was also able to assist in agreeing a substantial reduction in charges to be remitted back to any fresh and differently-constituted panel.
Accordingly the appeal was allowed, the original decision quashed, and the matter remitted back to a fresh tribunal for reconsideration on reduced charges.
Whilst the High Court did not agree with the perhaps bold submission that the matter should be quashed entirely (and not remitted), Louisa was pleased to see commentary in the decision that she had made “considerable headway” in her cross examination of the complainant before the NMC, and that there was “considerable force” in her critique of the evidence of another NMC witness, despite not being able to reach the high hurdle of persuading the High Court that no reasonable tribunal could rely on their evidence, and so there would be no utility in remitting the matter.
The judgment is available to view here. An article about the case can be viewed here.
