RCM welcomes renewed focus on maternity safety as Secretary of State announces rapid review
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed the announcement of a rapid review of maternity safety. The review, announced by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, is due to report by Christmas. Alongside this, the Health Secretary will chair a National Maternity & Neonatal Taskforce, which will bring together experts, staff and campaigners to drive improvements […]
RCM gives evidence to inquiry on Black maternal health
Cultural competence, a lack of accurate data and insufficient time with midwives were all highlighted as key issues by the RCM at an inquiry into Black maternal health this week. The House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee (HSC) inquiry is aimed at assessing why, despite several polices and the creation of government […]
Pay consultation opens for members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Today the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has today launched a pay consultation with its Agenda for Change (AfC) members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The College is urging all members across all three nations to have their say on the recent 3.6% pay award as it wants to hear how midwives and maternity […]
Chancellor’s Spending Review is high on hope but low on detail
The Royal College of Midwives has given a cautious welcome to the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review, announced today. Gill Walton, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the RCM, said: “Midwives, maternity support workers and student midwives will have been hoping for more of an indication that this Government understands the desperate need for investment in […]
New midwives ready to work, but no jobs available despite understaffed services says RCM
More than eight out of 10 student midwives due to qualify this year say that are ‘not confident’ they will find a job once graduating despite maternity services across the UK struggling with understaffing, according to a new survey published today by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). The RCM says three-quarters (75%) of those […]
What the new NHS role profiles mean for you
The RCM’s Director of Employment Relations explains the changes to the NHS role profiles mean to maternity support workers and midwives If you’ve been following recent developments around Agenda for Change (AfC), you might have heard that the NHS Staff Council has now agreed on new national profiles for nursing and midwifery staff. And if […]
Health secretary to address national summit on maternity and neonatal safety
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting will address NHS leaders at a first-of-its-kind summit on maternity and neonatal safety in July. The summit is aimed at Chief Executives and Chairs of NHS Trusts, Boards and Integrated Care Boards to support them in addressing the safety crisis facing maternity and neonatal care. Importantly, delegates will […]
Improving maternity care and support for pregnant women with disabilities
In her latest blog Clare Livingstone, Head of Professional Policy and Practice shares an update on the RCM’s work to improve maternity care and support for pregnant women with disabilities Disabled women make up 20% of women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in the UK, equating to 2.9 million women. Despite this, emerging evidence here […]
Closer collaboration needed to tackle stark inequalities revealed in latest Saving Babies’ Lives report says RCM
Improving maternity outcomes must be a national priority across all UK governments, says the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in response to the latest Saving Babies’ Lives progress report, from Sands and Tommy’s joint policy unit. The RCM is calling for urgent, coordinated action to address persistent inequalities and prevent avoidable deaths. The report states […]
Government announces pay award for RCM members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has issued a cautious welcome to the news that the governments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have accepted the pay recommendations from the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) in full. The RCM says while it believes its hard-working members deserve more, the 3.6% is a ‘small improvement’ on […]