Welsh midwives work hundreds of unpaid extra hours to keep services safe
Midwives in Wales are working hundreds of extra unpaid hours to keep maternity services running safely. Results of a poll published by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) have revealed more than eight out of 10 (83%) midwives have worked extra hours for no pay over the course of just one week. Over half (53%) […]
What should midwives be researching – we want to hear from the global majority community say RCM
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has launched a Research Prioritisation Project to understand what the top 10 future areas of maternity research should be. We want to hear from anyone across the UK who interacts with maternity services, so midwives, maternity support workers (MSWs), students and women and their families. We especially want to […]
Northern Ireland midwives vote to accept pay offer
Midwife and maternity support worker members of the Royal College of Midwives have voted to accept the pay offer made by the Northern Ireland Department of Health. A consultation of members closed on Wednesday, with 86.3% voting to accept. Karen Murray, Director of RCM Northern Ireland, said: “First and foremost, I want to pay tribute […]
Northern Ireland midwives vote to accept pay offer
on 22 March 2024 Midwife and maternity support worker members of the Royal College of Midwives have voted to accept the pay offer made by the Northern Ireland Department of Health. A consultation of members closed on Wednesday, with 86.3% voting to accept. Karen Murray, Director of RCM Northern Ireland, said: “First and foremost, I […]
‘Keep vital maternity services open’ say RCM
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has called on local commissioners to rethink plans to close vital maternity and neonatal services at the Royal Free Hospital or the Whittington Hospital in North London. Under the current plans, one of the two maternity and services would close. The RCM along with midwives and maternity staff has […]
RCM calls to forgive student debt at TUC Women’s Conference
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has today called on the Government to forgive student midwife debt and expand financial support for all healthcare students. The call comes in an RCM motion to the TUC Women’s Conference on the eve of International Women’s Day. A recent RCM survey found three-quarters of student midwives in England […]
RCM tells politicians how to fix the midwifery staffing crisis with new pre-election guide
‘Ending the national midwife shortage is possible,’ says the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) as it launches a new guide with solutions for the next UK Parliament. Low-cost solutions to improve working conditions for midwives, practical examples of how flexible working can work, and suggestions to improve education and student attrition rates are among the […]
Safe maternity services will be maintained say RCM on eve of strike
Urgent action needed to reduce truly shocking death rate for new mothers, says RCM
The Government must take urgent and prompt action to reverse the truly shocking rise in the number of women who died during or within six weeks of pregnancy, says the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). Figures released today by MBRRACE-UK show that the maternal death rate has reached levels not seen in over 20 years. […]
RCM CEO Gill Walton talks to BBC Five Live about workforce shortages
Gill Walton spoke to Naga Munchetty about the challenges faced by maternity staff and the impact on safety due to chronic workforce shortages.