RCM statement on Chancellor’s commitment to recruit 2,000 more midwives

Following today’s Autumn Statement, the Royal College of Midwives has given a cautious welcome to the commitment by the Government to recruit 2,000 more midwives in England. Dr Suzanne Tyler, Executive Director Trade Union at the RCM, said: “The RCM has been telling anyone who will listen – including Jeremy Hunt in his previous roles […]

Act on pay and help the NHS, staff and patients, say health unions

Unions representing more than a million staff working across the NHS have today (Tuesday) met with health secretary Steve Barclay to discuss the growing workforce crisis. At the Westminster meeting this morning, the unions made clear that without urgent government action on wages, experienced health workers would continue to quit their jobs, and the NHS struggle to […]

Government must act now to reverse rise in maternal deaths, says RCM

The ‘statistically significant’ increase in maternal deaths reported today by MBRRACE-UK is a tragic indication of a lack of Government investment in maternity services, according to the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). Many of the deaths cited in the report are linked to mental health issues and although improving there are continuing inequalities in outcomes […]

RCM Chief Exec calls out Government for starving the NHS of resources

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has criticised the Government for its latest derisory pay offer, stating that ‘they are not on the side of working people.’ Speaking at a TUC rally in Westminster yesterday (2 November), RCM Chief Executive Gill Walton strongly condemned the Government, saying that ‘they have attacked pay, pensions, protections at […]

‘Fix crisis in midwifery staffing now’ says the RCM

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has called on the Scottish Government to take urgent action on the midwifery staffing crisis. Speaking at the Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC), the RCM said that it was vital that the Government to act now to improve retention and recruitment of midwives. Scotland like the rest of the […]

Addressing the impact of staffing shortages

By Sean O’Sullivan, Head of Health and Social Policy, RCM on 27 October 2022 Maternity Services Midwifery Workforce MSWs – Maternity Support Workers Safety Staffing Levels Earlier this month, the Maternity All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and the Baby Loss APPG issued a joint calling for urgent action to address staffing shortages in maternity services. […]

Scotland’s midwives vote yes to industrial action over pay

Midwife and maternity support worker (MSW) members of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) across Scotland have overwhelmingly voted yes on taking industrial action, up to and including strike action, over the Scottish Government’s ‘insulting’ pay offer.   Smashing through the Government imposed ballot threshold, the result comes after the RCM ballot on pay closed earlier […]

Supporting activists to reach more members in RCM pay ballot

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is using the power of peer-to-peer communication to enable its workplace reps and pay activists to engage members in the upcoming England and Wales pay ballot opening on 11 November. One of the key ways to engage members is through one-to-one conversations in person, but this has limits in […]

Maternity services are highlighted as an area of special concern in CQC report

By Tara Kaufman, Policy Advisor, Royal College of Midwives on 21 October 2022 Maternity Services Midwifery Workforce MSWs – Maternity Support Workers Safety Staffing Levels The CQC’s annual report on the state of healthcare in England published today doesn’t pull its punches: “The… system is gridlocked” is its grim opening. It goes on to paint […]

‘Deeply insulting’ says the RCM on revised Scotland NHS pay offer

Scotland’s revised pay offer to midwives and maternity support workers (MSW) announced today is disappointing and deeply insulting says the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). The RCM is calling for the Scottish Government to rethink its position on pay and to put a meaningful pay offer on the table. Late yesterday the Scottish Government made […]