‘Join together and march against racism’ say the RCM

Being an anti-racist is everybody’s business says the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). The comments come ahead of UN Anti Racism Day demonstrations taking place across the UK which the RCM is encouraging it’s members to attend. The demonstrations are planned in London and Glasgow on Saturday 16 March and Cardiff on Sunday 17 March, […]

RCM ramps up pay campaign as members give evidence to Pay Review Body

Members of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) were in London this week giving oral evidence about the real, lived experience of midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) to the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB). They were joined by RCM’s General Secretary Gill Walton who also urged the PRB to consider the bigger picture when […]

Time for members in Northern Ireland to have their say on pay offer

‘It’s time for RCM members in Northern Ireland to have their say on pay’. That’s the message from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) as it launches its pay consultation. The proposed pay offer announced earlier this week would see the restoration of pay parity with England with an uplift of 5%. In addition to […]

RCM welcomes introduction of baby loss certificates

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed the launch of baby loss certificates for parents who have experienced the loss of a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy. From today parents in England can access the government’s voluntary scheme if they wish to record and receive a certificate which recognises the loss of their […]

New regulation for midwives treating pregnant women on sodium valproate

The Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has released new regulation on Valproate treatment which midwives can use to ensure the safety of pregnant women who take the drug. This followed an earlier alert in November 2023 for all organisations in preparations to the new safety measures. The new regulation focusses on the prevention […]

Still work to do but encouraging improvements in maternity services say RCM

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed the recognition by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of improvements across the board in women’s experience in maternity care. The CQC’s annual maternity survey, published today, also acknowledges the huge pressures midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) are facing. A survey of over 25,000 women and their […]

Midwives need more time to talk to women about birth trauma, says RCM

It is simply impossible to address birth trauma adequately without addressing the continuing shortage of midwives, the RCM’s Chief Executive Gill Walton has told the UK’s first-ever inquiry into birth trauma. This week the RCM gave its evidence to the inquiry launched by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on birth trauma. Over the next six […]

Time for a resolution on pay as Executive returns says RCM

 ‘Now is the time for a resolution on pay,’ says The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Northern Ireland with the anticipated return of the Executive and an existing commitment from the UK Government on funding for public sector pay. Following a second day of strike action earlier this month by midwives, maternity support workers […]

RCM comments on Panorama’s ‘Midwives under Pressure’ programme

Following the broadcast of Panorama – Midwives under Pressure by the BBC, Gill Walton, Chief Executive of The Royal College of Midwives (RCM), said: “The testimonies of the midwives, the women, and their families are heartbreaking and must be the catalyst for change. We have heard too many stories and read too many reports all […]

Urgently Improve facilities to help midwives and MSWs breastfeed at work, says RCM

Breastfeeding facilities for midwives and midwifery support workers (MSWs) returning to work need urgent improvement, according to a new survey by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). Midwives and MSWs face huge barriers to breastfeeding or expressing milk while at work, including having no suitable places to feed or express, a lack of time to […]