RCM welcomes parliamentary support for a dedicated midwifery strategy
Labour MP Maya Ellis, stood up in the House of Commons to urge the Government to hold a debate on “a dedicated midwifery strategy that recognises the profession’s unique contribution to maternity care, distinct from nursing.” Earlier this week, RCM Chief Executive Gill Walton wrote to NHS England explaining the RCM’s decision not to participate […]
Partial pay funding falls short for Northern Ireland midwives and MSWs, says RCM
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Northern Ireland has expressed disappointment that while some funding has been allocated towards 2025/26 Agenda for Change pay, it represents only around half of what is needed to restore full pay parity for midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs). This follows ongoing concerns raised by the health and […]
Royal College of Midwives warns postcode lottery is putting mothers’ mental health at risk
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling for urgent action to end the postcode lottery in perinatal mental health care across the UK. On World Mental Health Day (10 October), the RCM is launching a new roadmap calling for improvements to perinatal mental health care, as it emerges that: One in four women experiences […]
Historic move sees RCM pull out of NHS Pay Review Body process
In a historic move after two decades the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has announced that it is withdrawing from the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) process for 2026/27. The decision the trade union says ‘it hasn’t taken lightly’ but one they feel is ‘absolutely necessary’ given lack of progress on NHS pay reform for […]
Urgent action needed to address inequalities in maternity outcomes for Black women says RCM
“Shocking inequalities in outcomes for Black women in maternity care must be addressed urgently”, says the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) following an inquiry and publication of a report by The House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee on Black Maternal Health. The report found systemic failings in leadership, training and ethnicity data collection […]
RCM response to Government announcement on national maternity investigation
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has called for urgency and support for staff and families following today’s announcement from the Department of Health and Social Care naming the 14 NHS Trusts that will be part of the new national investigation into maternity and neonatal services. Gill Walton, Chief Executive of the RCM, said: “Now […]
RCM patron Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visits Welsh maternity unit
A maternity service that is leading the way in delivering culturally competent maternity care and improvements outlined in the Welsh Government’s Anti-Racism Action Plan has received royal recognition. The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, today visited the midwives and maternity staff at The Grange Hospital to see first […]
Joint agency approach is needed to end the inequality gap in maternal mortality rates says RCM
The Royal College of Midwives has again called for immediate and urgent measures to tackle the inequality of outcomes for women and families using maternity services. The call comes following the publication of the latest MBRRACE-UK report, Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care, into maternal deaths during and immediately following pregnancy between 2021 and 2023. The […]
‘Utterly unfair’ that RCM members in Northern Ireland are still without pay uplift
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Northern Ireland says it’s pressing the Northern Ireland Executive for progress on an overdue pay award for its members. The RCM has described the delay as ‘utterly unfair’ and ‘completely demoralising’ for hard working midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) The Health and Social Care (HSC) Trade Unions […]
RCM Cymru welcomes announcement of new Maternity and Neonatal Oversight Panel
Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Cymru has welcomed the Welsh Government’s announcement of a new Maternity and Neonatal Oversight Panel, which will undertake a current state ‘rapid independent assessment’ of maternity services in Wales. However, the RCM has cautioned that this assessment must strengthen and support the improvement work that is already underway, not derail […]