Closer collaboration needed to tackle stark inequalities revealed in latest Saving Babies’ Lives report says RCM
Improving maternity outcomes must be a national priority across all UK governments, says the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in response to the latest Saving Babies’ Lives progress report, from Sands and Tommy’s joint policy unit. The RCM is calling for urgent, coordinated action to address persistent inequalities and prevent avoidable deaths. The report states […]
The bravery of RCM members, always shining through
RCM Chief Executive Gill Walton shares her reflections on our 2025 conference, and the meaning of bravery in maternity services and midwifery education RCM Conference is always a whirlwind. There’s so much going on and so many people to say hello to. It was good to have a bank holiday this time and good to […]
RCM urges greater focus and ambition around midwifery and maternity research
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has announced its top 10 research priorities for midwifery and maternity care – identified in a thorough process working with the James Lind Alliance, and closely supported by a project Steering Group made up of midwives, midwifery students, maternity support workers (MSWs), women and birthing parents and their supporters. […]
Surprise Royal visit stuns unsuspecting RCM members at RCM’s national conference
Delegates at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) annual conference were left stunned at the surprise arrival of Her Royal Highness (HRH) The Princess Royal to their national conference in Birmingham on Thursday. In a special speech, she thanked midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) for the incredible work they do in transforming and positively […]
‘Shocking budget cuts will compromise the delivery of safe maternity care in every way,’ says RCM
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has described the Government and NHS England’s decision to slash crucial ringfenced maternity service funding as ‘utterly shocking’. The devastating decision revealed by the Health Service Journal (HSJ) on the eve of the RCM’s national conference, will see national Service Development Funding (SDF) for maternity services drop from £95m […]
RCM urges members in Scotland to have their say on pay offer
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling on all its members working in the NHS in Scotland to have their say on the pay offer announced last week The call comes as the RCM today opens a three-week consultation with all Agenda for Change (AfC) midwives and maternity care assistants (MCAs) and maternity support […]
Deploying nursing associates in maternity settings risks undermining safety
‘Maternity support workers (MSWs) have been trained to work in maternity settings and nursing associates have been trained to work in nursing settings. One role cannot replace the other.’ That’s the message from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in a joint statement on the role of Nursing Associates in Maternity is published. The RCM […]
Pay offer arrives for RCM members in Scotland
An above inflation pay offer which meets the RCM’s pay claim has been announced for midwives and maternity care assistants (MCAs) working in the NHS in Scotland The RCM, together with other Scottish trade unions, has negotiated a two-year pay offer with the Scottish Government which crucially contains inflation protection. The offer equates to an […]
RCM responds to announcement that NHSE is to be scrapped
Responding to the Prime Minister’s announcement that NHS England is to be scrapped with management of health service returning to Government, the Royal College of Midwives’ (RCM) Chief Executive, Gill Walton, said: “Both the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary have said that abolishing NHS England will put more money into frontline services. Every midwife […]
A look behind the headlines on Scotland’s maternity services
After a week of more news headlines on the safety of Scotland’s maternity services RCM’s Director for Scotland Jaki Lambert discusses the reality behind the headlines. No midwife or maternity care assistant (MCA) wants to see headlines about women and families not receiving the care they need. Yet this week that’s sadly what we’ve seen, […]