RCM responds to announcement that NHSE is to be scrapped

Responding to the Prime Minister’s announcement that NHS England is to be scrapped with management of health service returning to Government, the Royal College of Midwives’ (RCM) Chief Executive, Gill Walton, said: “Both the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary have said that abolishing NHS England will put more money into frontline services. Every midwife […]

RCM joins joint call for Government to accelerate action on women’s health

On the eve of International Women’s Day, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has joined the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and 47 other women’s heath charities and health organisations are calling for concrete commitments to ensure women receive the quality healthcare they need through their lives, in an open letter to the […]

RCM calls on Government to step up to tackle inequalities in maternity outcomes 

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) this week has used the TUC Women’s Conference as another opportunity to call on the Government to do more to improve the unacceptable maternity outcomes faced by Black and Asian women. Delivering its decolonising midwifery practice and education motion today the RCM called on the TUC to join with […]

RCM welcomes Minster’s approval of full backpay for members in Northern Ireland

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed the approval by Mike Nesbitt, the Health Minister for Northern Ireland, of the full 12 months of back pay owing to RCM members. This means midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) will now receive their 5.5% pay award which will be backdated to 1 April 2024 and […]

RCM welcomes new standards for maternity care in Wales

“New standards for maternity must be the catalyst for safety improvements across all services in Wales.” That’s the message from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) as it welcomes Welsh Government plans to improve maternity services. The new Quality Statement on Maternity and Neonatal care and Perinatal Engagement Framework, unveiled by the Welsh Government today, […]

RCM reassured by Government’s acknowledgement of issues raised in preterm birth report

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is reassured that the Government has acknowledged the issues raised by the House of Lords Preterm Birth Committee report on Preterm birth: reducing risks and improving lives, particularly as the focus of this inquiry is on improving care for groups most at risk. The College says this is a […]

RCM Wales welcomes rollout of electronic health record and maternity app

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Wales has welcomed an announcement from Welsh Government that electronic health records (EHR) and an app for maternity care will be introduced by March 2026. Maternity services can deliver safer care with the use of digital technology says the RCM as the EHR will enable pregnant women to […]

RCM welcomes long overdue pay award for members in Northern Ireland

A long overdue pay award has finally arrived for midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) in Northern Ireland. In a letter to Health and Social Care unions the Minister for Health Mike Nesbitt has confirmed that RCM members in Northern Ireland will receive a pay rise of 5.5%. The proposed pay award is on par […]

Government pay recommendation ‘not good enough’ says RCM

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has described the Government’s pay recommendation of 2.8% for 2025/26 as ‘not good enough’ and says it won’t meet the expectations of its hard-working members. Furthermore, moving the crucial structural negotiations which formed part of this year’s pay round into 2025/26 runs counter to the Government’s previous commitment of […]

Maternal care for pregnant migrant women needs radical improvement, says RCM

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling for migrant women to receive adequate language support, including translation services, and access to maternity care via multiple routes when they need it. The call comes as MBRRACE-UK published its State of the Nation report on the maternity care recent migrant women receive, which found that just […]