Improving pay part of the solution to stem the tide of midwives leaving the NHS says RCM
‘Paying staff fairly and valuing the skilled work they do is an important part of the solution to the maternity staffing crisis.’ That’s the message from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) as it submits evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) for the 2024/25 pay round. Below-inflation pay awards and decades of pay […]
Navigating the Climate Crisis: A Call to Action for Midwives on #IDM2024
By Lia Brigante, professional policy advisor at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and a board member for Europe at the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) As many midwives, I find myself deeply concerned about the intersection of the climate crisis and maternal health. Year after year, we witness rising temperatures, intensified extreme weather events, […]
Perinatal mental health – why it matters and what midwives can do
on 29 April 2024 Sally Ashton‐May, Director of Midwifery Policy and Practice at the RCM discusses perinatal mental health care for women is crucial and role that midwives can play. 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 […]
‘We need to tackle bullying and harassment of NHS international recruits’ say RCM and other Unions
International recruits to the NHS are being bullied, harassed and discriminated against, say the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), as they publish new guidance for recruiting midwives and health professionals to the UK. The RCM alongside, the Society of Radiographers (SOR), and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) have drawn on the poor experiences of […]
Networks
Networks Sharing information and intelligence is vital if we are to improve midwifery care and education. The RCM facilitates a number of networks to bring together midwives, student midwives and MSWs working clinically, in research and in education to inform RCM policy and how we influence policy-makers across the UK. Our current networks RCM Director […]
Health, Safety and wellbeing
Health, Safety and wellbeing We know that maternity care is an incredible but demanding job. Our personal and working life can affect our mental and physical health and it can be difficult to address our wellbeing when we’re not sure where to turn for help. This section of the website is dedicated to sharing useful […]
Leadership
Leadership Every midwife, MSW and student midwife has a leadership role to play in maternity. This may be through supporting women, colleagues, teams and the wider services. It is important for all midwives, students and MSWs to appreciate and understand leadership and their role as a leader within maternity. Core leadership competencies Authentic Standing up […]
Who we are
about us The Royal College of Midwives is the professional association and trade union for midwives and maternity support workers in the UK. We support our members to be the best midwife or MSW they can be, through the provision of guidance, support and advice on professional development, as well as representation should they need […]
RCM welcomes NHS Wales staff and Health and Wellbeing Guide
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed the launch of a Health and Wellbeing guide for staff in NHS Wales. Supporting both the physical and mental health of staff is crucial, the RCM says, to ensuing the delivery of safe high quality maternity care for women and their families in Wales. The Best Practice […]
RCM launches snap poll for members in Northern Ireland
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling all its members in Northern Ireland to take part in its snap poll on additional hours worked which launches today. The RCM wants to know how many unpaid extra hours its members worked during last week, 15-21 April. Midwives and Maternity Support Workers (MSWs) can let the […]