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 […]

Balance between women’s choices and midwives’ safety must be paramount in application of new NMC principles

New principles published today by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for supporting women’s choices in maternity care are a step forward in bringing much-needed clarity, consistency and confidence to practice, according to the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).   The new principles, which involved input from the RCM, have been designed to help midwives and […]

RCM responds to report which finds challenges in maternity safety are systemic

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed the recommendation of a national approach to tackle maternity safety concerns set out today by the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB).  The RCM concurs with the HSSIB scoping report that safety challenges in maternity and neonatal care are the result of national systemic issues and hopes […]

Royal College of Midwives welcomes appointment of Baroness Amos as chair of maternity and neonatal rapid review – but urges Health Secretary to pick up the pace

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed the announcement of Baroness Valerie Amos as chair of the review of maternity and neonatal safety, announced by the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care in June. However, the College’s reaction is tempered by frustration of the pace of the so-called rapid review. Gill Walton, […]

RCM backs faster midwife access – but warns against widening inequalities

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed a new NHS England initiative that allows women to use an online tool to refer themselves to their local maternity services – cutting out the need to see a GP first.  It aims to speed up access to crucial booking in appointments and has already been used […]

RCM welcomes ‘glimmers of hope’ for graduating midwives 

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed news that funding has been unlocked to get newly- qualified midwives into their first job. Following today’s announcement by the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care, Wes Streeting, NHS England will make ‘top up’ funding available to NHS Trusts to enable them to take on […]

RCM Wales set to become RCM Cymru

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Wales is officially rebranding as RCM Cymru from 8 August 2025. The change reflects the RCM’s commitment to the Welsh language and its use among RCM members, and the Welsh-speaking women and families that use maternity services across Wales. One of the key factors to delivering more personalised […]