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 […]
RCM press for progress on pay for members in Northern Ireland
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Northern Ireland says it’s pressing the Government for progress on an overdue pay award for its members. Midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) in Northern Ireland were due their pay uplift on 1 April and the RCM says its completely ‘unfair’ that its members remain in limbo. The […]
RCM welcomes pilot site phase of ABC programme to reduce brain injuries at birth
The next phase of the Avoiding Brain Injuries (ABC) programme to improve and personalise maternity care and reduce the risk of two significant contributors to avoidable brain injury in childbirth commences this week with the rollout of a pilot training phase across nine maternity services in England. The ABC programme which aims to support and […]
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 […]
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 […]
Counting the cost
Heather Bower, the RCM’s Head of Midwifery Education, goes behind the headlines of the College’s State of UK Midwifery Student Finance Report and warns of potential, but avoidable, challenges for the future midwifery workforce There has been so much talk of a cost of living crisis over the past few years that it’s almost lost […]
RCM Wales welcomes re-opening of Neath Port Talbot Hospital Birth Centre
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Wales has welcomed the long awaited re-opening of the Neath Port Talbot Hospital Birth Centre, and the reintroduction of the Swansea Bay Home Birth Service which will give women in the area much greater choice over how they give birth. The Birth Centre closed in September 2021 because […]
RCM shines light on issues impacting its members at TUC Congress
A strong RCM delegation made up of midwives, maternity support workers (MSWs) and RCM staff attended the TUC’s Annual Congress in Brighton this week. The RCM used this year’s congress as another opportunity to shine a light on the issues affecting its members, with motions around inclusivity in maternity services, equitable pay for NHS bank […]