‘Deeply insulting’ says the RCM on revised Scotland NHS pay offer
Scotland’s revised pay offer to midwives and maternity support workers (MSW) announced today is disappointing and deeply insulting says the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). The RCM is calling for the Scottish Government to rethink its position on pay and to put a meaningful pay offer on the table. Late yesterday the Scottish Government made […]
We must work together to fix maternity care, says RCM
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has urged swifter progress to fix the systemic problems facing maternity care. The call comes following the publication by Dr Bill Kirkup CBE of his review of the failings at East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust. Birte Harlev-Lam, Executive Director Midwife at the RCM, said: “Every woman should feel that […]
Staffing and funding for maternity bereavement services ‘a scandal’ says the RCM at TUC Congress
Significant and urgent Investment is needed to tackle serious staff shortages and underfunding in maternity service bereavement care. That’s the message from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in a motion to the TUC Congress tomorrow. Around 1 in 5 pregnancies result in a miscarriage or stillbirth, yet services and support for bereaved women and […]
Impact of social and ethnic inequalities clear in latest MBRRACE-UK report says RCM
‘The highest stillbirth rates continue to impact women living in the most deprived communities where social inequalities are entrenched.’ That’s according to the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) as it responds to the latest MBRRACE-UK PMRT report. The college says while it’s positive to see a drop in perinatal death rates variation sadly persists based […]
RCM to consult members in Northern Ireland on appetite for industrial action
“If no pay award was implemented, would you be prepared to take industrial action?” That’s one of the questions the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) will ask its members in Northern Ireland next week when it launches a formal consultation on pay. The RCM says its ‘deeply frustrated’ and its ‘completely unfair’ that hardworking midwives […]
RCM urges members in England and Wales to vote YES to industrial action as ballot date announced
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has today launched only its second ballot on industrial action in England and its first in Wales in its 142 year history. The College, which represents most midwives and also maternity support workers (MSWs) in the UK, is calling on its members to vote yes to industrial action over […]
Maternity colleges urge pregnant women to have flu and Covid-19 vaccines this winter
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) are urging all pregnant women and people to have the flu and COVID-19 vaccines to offer themselves and their babies the best protection from the viruses. This comes as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS offer millions of […]
Midwives in England and Wales to be balloted on industrial action
Midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) working in the NHS in England and Wales are set to be balloted on industrial action. The move was announced by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) at its annual Activists Conference in Warwick today following a consultation with members in both countries. A month-long consultation saw members overwhelmingly […]
Isle of Man maternity strategy needed urgently to improve safety, care and choice for women says RCM
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is today setting out the case for a review of maternity services and the development of a maternity strategy for the Isle of Man. Currently the island has no overarching strategy for maternity care and the island does not have many of the resources – such as consultant midwives […]
Date set to ballot midwives on industrial action in Scotland
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Scotland has today announced the date it will ballot its members on industrial action. The four-week ballot will open on 29 September and run until 27 October. The announcement comes as midwives, maternity support workers (MSWs) and maternity care assistants (MCAs) overwhelmingly rejected the Scottish Government’s pay offer of […]