Fix the staffing emergency, don’t shrink maternity services says the RCM
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has warned that closing maternity units is not the answer to the pressures facing services, after the NHS Alliance suggested up to 20 of England’s 155 consultant-led units may need to close or change their role. The comments, from the alliance’s director for acute care, Matthew Hopkins, singled out […]
Making your voices heard at Labour Party Conference
Political party conferences are one of the most important opportunities we have to influence national policy on maternity services. For three long days, from the first events on Sunday to the last fringe meetings late in the evening, the RCM team has been in every room we could get into. Our aim was simple – […]
Five decades of care: RCM member marks 50 years in midwifery
A dedicated midwife and long-standing Royal College of Midwives (RCM) member is celebrating an incredible 50 years in the profession. Dr Marilyn Rogers MBE, who has worked at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust for more than five decades, marked the milestone last month. An active RCM member for over 30 years, Marilyn has also played […]
RCM support secures £185,000 compensation for midwife injured responding to emergency call
A midwife has been awarded £185,000 in damages with the support of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) after suffering serious injuries while responding to an emergency call at work. The RCM member was injured while working a night shift at a hospital in the North of England. In the early hours, she received an emergency call […]
Midwifery graduate survey shows one in three haven’t secured a job
A UK-wide survey of newly qualified midwives (NQM) by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has revealed a troubling picture of the employment landscape facing the profession’s newest entrants. Among the respondents who have received their NMC PIN – the professional registration which is necessary to be able to work as a midwife – 31% […]
‘Safe staffing = safe care’: Your voices, your manifesto, your campaign
In this blog, RCM Director for Scotland Jaki Lambert reflects on the launch of our Scotland Manifesto and the powerful message at its heart: safe staffing equals safe care. Drawing on the voices of midwives, maternity care assistants, students and leaders from across Scotland, Jaki sets out why this campaign belongs to members – and […]
World-class maternity workers celebrated at Royal College of Midwives Awards
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has celebrated the dedication, skill and compassion of midwives, maternity support workers and students from across the UK at this year’s RCM Awards. The prestigious RCM Awards are held annually and honour outstanding individuals in maternity care who have made a positive impact on women, babies and their families, […]
‘Enough is enough’: Royal College of Midwives calls on Government to take urgent action with safe staffing campaign
Crucial campaign launched at Westminster this week The RCM has set out five clear priorities which will improve maternity safety – and is calling on Health Secretary Wes Streeting to act now The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling on the Government to take urgent action to address chronic staffing shortages in maternity services that are putting […]
When staffing isn’t safe, neither is care. Here’s why the RCM is launching our new campaign
Today, the Royal College of Midwives is launching its Safe Staffing = Safe Care campaign in England – demanding policymakers to take urgent action for women and babies. RCM Chief Executive Gill Walton outlines why we’ve launched the campaign and the five important actions from Government. All midwives remember that magical moment when you receive your PIN – and the first time you walk into a ward and into a clinic as a newly qualified midwife. I […]
Midwives’ trusted role is vital to improving vaccine uptake in pregnancy, RCM tells national webinar
Midwives play a critical role in supporting women and families to make informed decisions about vaccination in pregnancy – but they need adequate time, training and resources to support this work, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) highlighted in a national webinar. Speaking at a UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) webinar on maternal vaccinations, Clare […]