Nursing and Midwifery Council determination — substantive hearing
NMC panel strikes off nursing associate Gemma Banks after Class A drug supply convictions
The Nursing and Midwifery Council has struck nursing associate Gemma Louise Banks off the register after she was convicted of being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine, offences the panel found fundamentally incompatible with her remaining on the register.
MedicWatch editorial · Published 18 May 2026 · Updated 10 July 2026
Erasure (struck off the register)
Added to MedicWatch: 10 July 2026Report a correction
What does “struck off the register” mean?
Being struck off (the regulator calls this "erasure") removes the practitioner from the register. They are no longer permitted to practise this profession in the UK. Erasure can be reviewed after a minimum of five years, but is otherwise indefinite.
Concerning Gemma Louise Banks, nursing associate (Nursing and Midwifery Council 19A2364E).
Decision date: 18 May 2026 · Hearing started 18 May 2026
In plain English
The NMC's Fitness to Practise Committee found that nursing associate Gemma Louise Banks' fitness to practise was impaired after she was convicted of two offences of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, heroin and crack cocaine. The panel decided the convictions were fundamentally incompatible with her remaining on the register and imposed a striking-off order, with an 18-month interim suspension order to cover any appeal period.
Charges
Convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 24 July 2024 of two offences: being concerned in the supplying of a controlled drug – Class A – heroin, between 15 May 2023 and 11 October 2023, in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 s.4(3); and being concerned in the supplying of a controlled drug – Class A – crack cocaine, over the same period, in contravention of s.4(3)(b).
Findings
Charge 1 was found proved in its entirety on the certificate of conviction under Rule 31(2) and (3). The panel found the convictions very serious; although not directly related to clinical practice, they brought the nursing associate profession into disrepute and breached fundamental tenets of the profession. With no evidence of insight, remorse or strengthened practice before the panel, fitness to practise was found currently impaired on public protection and public interest grounds. Ms Banks had been sentenced to 24 months' imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, with a rehabilitation activity requirement.
Mitigating and aggravating factors
Mitigating factors
No previous criminal convictions; some evidence of remorse demonstrated during the criminal proceedings.
Aggravating factors
Ms Banks' offending behaviour resulted in personal financial gain; very limited engagement with the NMC.
Source
All facts on this page are drawn from the publicly published Nursing and Midwifery Council determination linked below. MedicWatch does not editorialise the regulator’s findings.
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