The Royal College of Midwives has urged the Government to be ambitious for maternity care, as it submits its response to the consultation on the NHS 10-year plan. This, says the College, is an opportunity to reshape maternity services in England for the better, both for the women and families that access them and for the staff that work in them.

Gill Walton, Chief Executive of the RCM, said:

“We know that, for many women, pregnancy gives them their first major interaction with the NHS. There is an incredible opportunity to shape the health of this and subsequent generations if we invest properly in supporting services to deliver good quality, safe care. That means ensuring that those services have the right staff, in the right place with the right education and skills. It means ensuring women receive appropriate care, including better mental health support during and after pregnancy. And it means listening to and learning from staff who know what needs to change – and, often, how to change it.

“We’re not saying this is a chance in a generation to change maternity care for the better. We’re saying that this is a chance to bring about change for every generation to come.”

Ensuring maternity services are effectively and appropriately staffed is key, said the RCM. At present, those leading services are having to make difficult decisions to relocate staff away from antenatal care to support women in labour. The RCM said leaders should not have to make those choices, that we need more midwives to ensure vital care, particularly around perinatal mental health, can be provided, and provided well.

Gill continued:

“RCM members have told us that they are plugging the gaps in services by working well beyond their shifts, and for no additional pay. The result is an exhausted workforce whose goodwill on which the NHS has so far relied is wearing increasingly thin. There is some amazing work going on in trusts to ensure the needs of women and families are met by innovative and flexible working practices. We want to see these shared and emulated across all services to ensure women get the care they need and staff are properly valued.”

Figures out yesterday (2 December) showed a sharp rise in the number of midwives leaving the register after five years or less in practice. Supporting and retaining skilled, experienced staff will help stem this exodus, ensuring that students and newly-qualified midwives can be properly supported.

The College also wants to see measures which reduce inequalities in maternity care and promote better outcomes, including better education on differences in presentation of signs and symptoms on Black or Asian skin. The RCM also wants to see greater investment in translation services within the NHS, to ensure women receive appropriate care and to improve safeguarding.

The unique relationship between women and maternity services should be applied to improving public health more widely. Services have already shown great success in reducing smoking among pregnant women. This could be applied to healthy eating, vaccination and other measures, the ripple effect of which could positively impact whole communities.

Gill concluded:

“There is no quick fix, no magic wand. But there is a commitment from the midwifery community to change for the better, and a will to make that change happen. We know what the answers are: we have had countless reports over recent years that consistently point to workforce, wellbeing and education. What we need now is a Government that commits to positive change and that is prepared to work with the midwifery community to deliver it.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

• The Royal College of Midwives’ submission to the Government’s consultation for the NHS 10-year plan can be found here

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team.  We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance, and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences, and online resources. For more information visit the RCM | A professional organisation and trade union dedicated to serving the whole midwifery team.