Inspiring Activists share what drives them to support RCM members
Stories of bargaining for better terms and conditions, improving wellbeing through branch initiatives, supporting members experiencing unfair treatment, and wins on the regrading of roles where all shared as RCM Activists gathered for the RCM’s Annual Activists Conference South this week. ‘Everybody in: Your place in the RCM’ was the theme of this year’s conference […]
RCM welcomes the extension of baby loss certificates
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed the Department of Health and Social Care’s decision to remove the 2018 cut-off date to allow all those who have experienced pregnancy loss in England to request a Baby Loss Certificate. The certificate service is a voluntary scheme to enable parents who have experienced a baby or […]
RCM joins call for more action to end maternal mortality disparities
Women should not die simply because they are Black, Asian or poor. This is the stark message from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) following the publication of the latest MBRRACE-UK report, Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care, into maternal deaths during and immediately following pregnancy between 2020 and 2022. The RCM has long called for […]
Maternity staff and pregnant women let down by ‘inconsistent and confused’ advice from Government and NHS
The Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) today told the COVID-19 inquiry of the pressure and distress caused to maternity staff and the women in their care during the pandemic. Gill Walton, who has led the College since 2017, said the lack of central and consistent information for maternity staff and pregnant […]
Act now to end the postcode lottery of perinatal mental health services says RCM
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has called on the new Government to act now to end the postcode lottery of perinatal mental health service provision across the UK. The call comes as the RCM responds to a new report from the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) which shows that services across the country are […]
RCM urges members in Wales to have their say on pay award
RCM urges members in Wales to have their say on pay award The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling on all its members working in NHS in Wales to have their say on the 5.5% pay award announced by Wales First Minister Eluned Morgan earlier this month. The call comes as the RCM today […]
RCM members in Scotland vote to accept pay offer
RCM members in Scotland vote to accept pay offer Midwives and maternity care assistants (MCAs) working in the NHS in Scotland have voted to accept a 5.5% pay offer. The RCM’s consultation with its members resulted in 83 percent of eligible members voting to accept the offer, saying it was a step towards addressing long […]
Learning from maternity incidents must be prioritised says RCM as it responds to latest CQC report
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has called on the Government to act quickly and effectively to improve maternity safety, following a new report from the Care Quality Commission. Services should be better supported to learn not only from where things go wrong, but learning from best practice too. The CQC said they have seen […]
Midwife recruitment hit by student finance pressures
Financial pressures are forcing student midwives out of their chosen career, with increasing numbers leaving their courses before completion because they simply can’t afford to continue. These are the stark findings of The State of UK Midwifery Student Finance, a new report published today (16 September) by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). With clinical […]
RCM responds to Darzi Report
In July 2024, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care commissioned Lord Darzi to conduct an immediate and independent investigation of the NHS. The rapid review was completed in nine weeks and the report was published today (12 September). Commenting on the Darzi Report, Royal College of Midwives Chief Executive Gill Walton said: […]