RCM welcomes IPPR workforce report and repeats call for publication of Government’s NHS workforce plan
A report on the health and social care workforce by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has highlighted the growing workforce crisis and called for a long-term sustainable solution ‘to give workers hope’. The report has been produced by the IPPR’s Workforce Assembly, a body made up of clinicians from health and social care […]
‘Act now’ and publish NHS workforce plan RCM and health organisations tell Rishi Sunak
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and other unions, professional bodies, charities and the NHS Confederation have written to the Prime Minister expressing dismay at the delayed publication of an NHS workforce plan. With the midwife shortage in England hitting 2500 the RCM along with the other organisations say a funded and sustainable plan must be […]
Safety, choice, and staff wellbeing must be focus of service reconfigurations, says RCM
Updated guidance on what to consider when reconfiguring maternity services has been published today by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). The guidance is aimed primarily at senior midwives and managers in trusts and boards, and RCM workplace representatives. It will also be useful to all midwives and maternity support workers who should be consulted […]
Midwives speak truth to power in Scotland
Royal College of Midwives (RCM) members from across Scotland were able to take their concerns and experiences of maternity services right to the heart of Holyrood earlier this month. Over 30 midwives including midwifery educators and researchers, maternity support workers and student midwives, met a range of Scottish MSPs at an RCM event at the […]
First European Nursing and Midwifery Week
The European Nursing & Midwifery Week (#ENMW2023) was developed by EFNNMA, a collaborative organization of WHO Regional Office for Europe, to celebrate and recognise nurses and midwives in Europe. The European Nursing and Midwifery Week (5-12 May 2023) aims to: Advocate for nursing and midwifery and a more inclusive society across Europe Raise awareness and […]
Group B Strep in Pregnancy & Babies Conference
On Wednesday 17 May 2023, Group B Strep Support will be holding a one-day virtual Group B Strep Pregnancy & Babies conference. Group B Strep is the most common cause of severe infection in newborn babies, and of meningitis in babies under 3 months. FREE bursary places currently available: – FREE bursary places to student midwives […]
Independent Maternity Working Group gives cautious welcome to three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services
The Independent Maternity Working Group (IMWG), set up in response to one of the ‘immediate and essential actions’ set out by Donna Ockenden in her independent report last year, welcomes the publication of NHS England’s three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services, published on 30 March. The plan has four key areas of focus […]
Upcoming pension changes support more flexible working for retired NHS staff
Midwives who retire but still want to do some NHS work will benefit from NHS pension scheme rule changes from 1 April 2023. The changes affect those who have 1995 pension scheme section benefits. From 1 April those who are retired can return to employment and build up further pension benefits in the 2015 Scheme. […]
RCM calls on England members to record unpaid hours and staffing levels in quick survey
Overstretched and under-resourced maternity services are putting enormous pressures on midwives and maternity support workers (MSW) as they strive to deliver safe care says the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). This is leaving many burnt-out and exhausted. The RCM wants to capture a true picture of those efforts to go over and above to ensure […]
RCM asks for members’ support in developing a national picture of perinatal mental health support
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is asking midwives and maternity support workers across the UK to help develop its perinatal mental health strategy. The RCM wants to get a sense of perinatal mental health support across different areas, regions and nations as it draws up a new strategy to inform and influence the debate […]