A new regulatory body for nurses and midwives, the Nursing and Midwifery Council went "live" this week.
It is the first of a new generation of regulatory bodies to follow on from the recommendations of the Kennedy Report into the Bristol Royal Infirmary babies scandal.
In line with these recommendations, virtually half of the voting members of the NMC are lay people - 11 out of 23.
Among the changes being brought in by the NMC to involve the public is the organisation's new web site (www.nmc-uk.org) which allows members of the public to find out how to make a complaint against a nurse or midwife.
The new regulatory body will have an annual general meeting, probably the first such meeting of any health regulator.
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