Partnership not punishment

When done well, regulation can be a force for good. It supports staff by providing structure and guidance to practice and it supports services in a similar way around delivery. It also helps build confidence among service users in those delivering care, and where it is being delivered. However, when done poorly, or inconsistently, it […]

What the change in Westminster Government means for members in Scotland

What, if anything, does the change in Westminster government mean to our members in Scotland? Does the fact that there is now a Labour government in Westminster and that the fifty-seven Scottish seats in Westminster have become a Labour majority with thirty-seven seats and Scottish National Party (SNP) reduced to 9 change anything for us?   […]

MIDIRS Opinion – How Hypnobirthing and a positive birth experience has inspired my fight against the media’s misrepresentations of childbirth

First-time mum Planned: Water birth at Assisted Midwife Unit (Forth Valley Royal Hospital, Larbert) Actual: Dry land at Assisted Midwife Unit (Forth Valley Royal Hospital, Larbert) Surprise baby girl Weight: 7lbs 4oz Due date: 6 March 2022 Birth date: 5 March 2022 Gestation: 39+6 I had a straightforward pregnancy – some acid reflux, the usual […]

Protection during pregnancy

As midwives, we do all we can to ensure that mother and baby are as healthy as possible during pregnancy and postnatally. One of the best parts of our armoury for doing that – and for setting baby up for life – is vaccination. RCM Professional Policy Advisor Clare Livingstone talks here about the current […]

A swift announcement on pay must be a priority for the new Government

In his first speech as the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting said the NHS was ‘broken’ and that it will take a team effort to turn it around. There is no NHS without its staff and addressing the retention crisis has to be a priority for the new government. […]

Change begins now

In the last of his election blogs, RCM Public Affairs Advisor Stuart Bonar sets out how the College will be holding the new Government to account – and making sure there is positive change in maternity services. Last night delivered an amazing, historic election result. Labour won over 400 seats in the House of Commons, […]

Then and now: Two days in the life of a MIDIRS Information Librarian

Tuesday 9 January 2024 Hello. My name is Jackie Mitchell, I’m one of the Information Librarians on MIDIRS Library and Information Services Team, helping to update and maintain the Maternity and Infant Care (MIC) database, providing literature searches, answering information enquiries from subscribers and non-subscribers, and supporting other staff members and teams in any way […]

Polling day is almost here. It’s time to choose

The manifestos have all been published. The TV debates are all wrapped up. And in the case of Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey, lakes have been fallen into, rollercoasters have been ridden, and water slides have been slid down. Now, just a few days of this eventful general election campaign remain. You may have […]

Presidential reflections

As the end of her three-year term beckons, outgoing RCM President Rebeccah Davies reflects on the experience and what she’s taking away from it.  It is three years since I was elected as your President, so thank you for having the confidence to vote for me. As voting for my successor draws to a close, […]

Get ready for polling day, as election campaign reaches its climax

It has only been a month – though it seems like an eternity – since Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stood outside 10 Downing Street in the pouring rain and called a general election for Thursday 4 July. It has been what feels like a very long campaign, but we can now say that we will know the […]