More flexible working vital to stop staff flight from NHS says RCM
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling for more flexible working in the NHS to boost retention of midwives, maternity support workers (MSW) and other staff. This comes in an RCM motion to the TUC Congress today. Staff are leaving the NHS in part because they do not have access to flexible working, and […]
NHS employers are failing staff on menopause support says the RCM calling for urgent improvements
Support from employers for maternity staff going through the menopause is ‘appallingly neglected’ and urgent improvements are needed says the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). The call comes as the RCM publishes guidance today for maternity staff and employers on working with the menopause on World Menopause Day. A survey of RCM members last year […]
Become a member of the Student Midwife Forum
We are pleased to announce that the nominations for student midwife elections to the RCM Student Midwife Forum (SMF) are open! The SMF is there for student midwives and to be a voice for all student midwives. The elected members speak for you at national level and work with staff at the RCM when it […]
RCM announces date it will ballot members in England and Wales on industrial action
The RCM is urging all members working in the NHS in England and Wales to vote yes to industrial action over pay as it announces the date its official ballot will open. After members in both countries overwhelmingly rejected their governments’ below-inflation pay award, the statutory ballot for midwives and maternity support workers will open […]
Supporting women seeking care outside guidance
By Lia Brigante, Policy & Practice Advisor The notion of woman-centred care has been at the heart of RCM policy and at the core of maternity policy in the UK for decades. We know that personalised care is safer care, and that having choice and control improves clinical outcomes for women and their babies. Midwives […]
Vaccines during pregnancy: New animations
The IMPRINT network develops animations about vaccines for pregnant women around the world. It has just released two new animations about Group B Streptococcus (GBS) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) to highlight the importance of these infections and explain how vaccines are being developed to protect infants. Clinical trials are taking place and we hope that, in the near […]
RCM recommends members vote YES to industrial action as ballot opens in Scotland
‘Stand by and get ready to vote on industrial action’ that’s the message from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Scotland as it formally launches its ballot on industrial action today. The RCM is recommending that members vote yes to both strike action and action short of a strike and say they do not […]
NHS pension scheme contribution changes coming on 1 October
Changes to NHS pension contributions for NHS pension scheme members in England and Wales are coming in on 1 October. The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is encouraging its midwife and maternity support worker (MSW) members to find out how this will affect them. The Government wanted to implement these changes earlier but delayed after […]
New independent maternity working group to oversee Maternity Transformation Programme in England
A new independent maternity working group, one of the key Immediate and Essential Actions (IEAs) from the Ockenden review of maternity safety, has met for the first time. The group, which is co-chaired by Gill Walton, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), and Dr Eddie Morris, President of the Royal College of […]
RCM members in England and Wales to be balloted on industrial action over pay
RCM members working in the NHS in England and Wales are set to be formally balloted on industrial action over pay. This follows a consultation in which RCM members overwhelmingly rejected their governments’ pay awards of £1400 for most Agenda for Change NHS staff. The amount equates to a 4% increase for those at the […]