What midwives need to know for NHS autumn 2026 vaccination programme
The NHS autumn vaccination programme got underway on 1 September 2026, and once again midwives have an important role in helping pregnant women understand which vaccinations are available to them and why they are recommended. With different vaccines recommended at different stages in pregnancy, and with the common questions about timing and vaccination safety, we’ve pulled together […]
Giving babies the best start: RCM backs new Babies Bill to strengthen support in the first 1,001 days
The Royal College of Midwives is backing new legislation calling for stronger support for families from conception and during the first 1,001 days. The RCM is among a number of health organisations which has signed an open letter to MPs ahead of the Second Reading of the Babies Bill, on Friday 4 September. The letter […]
Big news for student midwives in England: placement costs are finally changing
The Government has announced changes to how student midwives are paid for placement travel and accommodation in England – a change the RCM has campaigned for since 2024. Here’s what it means for you. Q: What’s actually changing? A: From the start of the 2026/27 academic year, eligible students in England with full access to the NHS Learning Support Fund will […]
5 things my bereavement midwife helped me with in my pregnancy after loss
To mark Rainbow Baby Week (16-22 August), Rachel Burn, from the RCM’s media team, explains why she’ll never forget the incredible care from her bereavement midwife. After losing a baby in 2023, I became pregnant with my son Ozzy just four months later. I desperately wanted that pregnancy, but when I saw the positive test […]
Providing safe maternity care 24/7 on a Scottish island: New report puts spotlight on island midwifery
Small island maternity services may care for fewer women, but safe care still needs to be there round-the-clock – with the right people and skills to respond when an emergency happens, often many miles from additional clinical support. A new RCM report sets out how Scotland’s island maternity workforce can be supported to do just […]
Rainbow Baby Week: Thank you to bereavement midwives supporting families through pregnancy after loss
As Rainbow Baby Week is marked in the UK, the Royal College of Midwives is shining a spotlight on bereavement midwives for the vital support they give to families navigating pregnancy after baby loss, Pregnancy after baby loss can be filled with hope, but it can also bring fear and anxiety – and having […]
5 things you need to know about birth trends in Great Britain
A major new report out this week from the National Maternity and Perinatal Audit (NMPA) confirms what many of you are seeing on shift every day – birth in Great Britain is changing, fast. The RCM is one of the partner organisations behind the audit, alongside RCOG, RCPCH and the London School of Hygiene […]
RCM member feedback helps shape new support for breastfeeding employees in Wales
Feedback from Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Cymru members has helped drive a new initiative to better support breastfeeding employees across Wales. The work began after members shared their experiences through the RCM’s Caring for You survey in 2023, highlighting the need for better support for employees returning to work while continuing to breastfeed. Now, as part of World […]
From bore da to birth: a new Welsh course for midwives
Midwives across Wales are being offered the opportunity to learn Welsh, with a brand new course developed specifically for the profession. The course will give midwives the practical language and confidence to use Welsh in everyday practice – from greeting a woman on her first appointment to supporting her through labour and beyond. It’s designed […]
Changes in midwifery education must not create new barriers for students, RCM tells the NMC
Increasing midwifery programmes from three years to four years won’t benefit students unless the final year is a funded internship, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has said in response to a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) consultation into education standards. The consultation explores a number of changes regarding how future midwives are educated and trained, including proposals around programme length, practice […]