RCM says perinatal mental health should be everyone’s business as it marks World Maternal Mental Health Day
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has today called for urgent investment in perinatal mental health support as part of events for World Maternal Mental Health Day (7 May). Low mood and poor mental health affect many people, but during the perinatal period women can be particularly vulnerable. Pregnancy is often portrayed as a time […]
Innovative Welsh team recognised for keeping maternity service users connected and tackling inequalities in care
An innovative project in Wales, which aims to tackle health inequalities by keeping maternity service users connected, has been recognised with a prestigious award. The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for Wales and the Royal College of Midwives Wales (RCM) Quality Improvement award for 2025 was awarded to the Digital Inclusion Maternity Databank, led by Cheri […]
RCM urges greater focus and ambition around midwifery and maternity research
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has announced its top 10 research priorities for midwifery and maternity care – identified in a thorough process working with the James Lind Alliance, and closely supported by a project Steering Group made up of midwives, midwifery students, maternity support workers (MSWs), women and birthing parents and their supporters. […]
Surprise Royal visit stuns unsuspecting RCM members at RCM’s national conference
Delegates at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) annual conference were left stunned at the surprise arrival of Her Royal Highness (HRH) The Princess Royal to their national conference in Birmingham on Thursday. In a special speech, she thanked midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) for the incredible work they do in transforming and positively […]
‘The impact you have on the women in your care is huge’ RCM’s Chief Executive tells national conference
‘Every family should leave maternity services whole and healthy’. That is the clear message from the leader of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) as she opened the RCM’s National Conference in Birmingham today. Gill Walton also reminded delegates that ‘the impact your midwifery practice has on women and their families is huge’. Highlighting staffing […]
‘Shocking budget cuts will compromise the delivery of safe maternity care in every way,’ says RCM
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has described the Government and NHS England’s decision to slash crucial ringfenced maternity service funding as ‘utterly shocking’. The devastating decision revealed by the Health Service Journal (HSJ) on the eve of the RCM’s national conference, will see national Service Development Funding (SDF) for maternity services drop from £95m […]
RCM Wales calls for more support for staff to deliver maternity safety improvements
Sustained support and investment are needed to enable midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) to deliver safety improvements across Welsh maternity services says the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Wales. Everything from safe staffing levels to prioritising time for multidisciplinary training and improving organisational and working cultures must be addressed,if we are to see […]
UK needs to invest in healthy beginnings, RCM tells UK governments
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling on the UK’s four governments to heed the advice of the World Health Organization and invest in healthy beginnings to build hopeful futures. With investment in maternity care across all four UK nations in the doldrums, the RCM is urging politicians to change tack. The RCM has […]
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 […]