The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Wales has welcomed the announcement by Health Secretary Jeremy Miles that a national assessment of all maternity and neonatal services will begin in Wales later this month.

The College says it’s a ‘significant step forward’ and something that is owed to the families who have suffered unbearable loss and to all those who have received care that has fallen short of the high standard of quality maternity care that every woman and her family deserves.

The RCM has long said that understaffing, lack of investment in services, working culture and not enough emphasis or time for crucial multidisciplinary training has impacted the standard of care that can be delivered across maternity services in Wales.

All these issues have also been identified in the Independent Review and Family Led Review of Maternity Services in Swansea Bay, released today (15 July).

Commenting, the RCM’s Director for Wales, Julie Richards, said:

“Every woman and family should be able to use maternity and neonatal services in Wales confidently, knowing that they will receive good quality maternity care. Sadly, we know that this is not always the case. Failings identified in the independent review of maternity services at Swansea Bay clearly show systematic issues such as chronic understaffing, not listening to women and their families and the board not listening to its own staff. This meant warning signs were missed and that is simply not good enough. These failings have not only let women down, but have let down hard working maternity staff, many of whom are trying so hard to provide good care in a system they feel is working against them. To truly address the challenges, there needs to be substantial investment in maternity services and a commitment to building a midwifery workforce that ensures we have enough staff to meet the demands being placed on maternity services in Wales. There is a sustained rise in more complex pregnancies and women choosing to have children later in life, which adds to the risk profile. So, it has never been more important that we have the right staff in the right place at the right time, with the right education and skills to ensure the delivery of safe care.”

The RCM says it’s also crucial that NHS employers provide a working environment that promotes the delivery of high-quality, safe maternity care. A poor working culture, where staff are afraid to raise concerns and feel unsupported, has been cited in many reviews and reports into maternity services in Wales. Equally, training, particularly multidisciplinary training, must be given a higher priority. We know that when midwives, obstetricians, and other members of the maternity team train together it fosters better relationships, trust, and understanding. The RCM has called on Health Boards to ensure that all staff training happens when its due, and that there is a greater emphasis on entire maternity teams training together.

Julie added:

“This independent review, the recently published Quality Statement on Maternity and Neonatal Care, alongside the Perinatal Engagement Framework and now the Welsh Government’s announcement of national assessment of all maternity and neonatal services, offer us a real opportunity to make the improvements that are needed in Wales. However, to make positive long-lasting change a reality we must all work together and learn from the mistakes that have been made and bravely shared by the women and their families. The RCM will also continue to encourage the sharing of successes and good practice between Health Boards as this type of learning is invaluable in the drive to improve safety. Equally the Welsh Government must continue to listen to the lived experience of the women using our maternity services and the staff that work in them, because without truly listening and acting upon their concerns we won’t see the change that we so desperately need.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• RCM Wales calls for more support for staff to deliver maternity safety improvements – Royal College of Midwives
• Independent chair to lead all-Wales maternity services assessment | Welsh Government News
• RCM welcomes new standards for maternity care in Wales – Royal College of Midwives
• Written Statement: Escalation and Intervention Arrangements (15 July 2025) | GOV.WALES

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About the RCM

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team.  We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance, and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences, and online resources. For more information visit the RCM | A professional organisation and trade union dedicated to serving the whole midwifery team.