Royal College of Midwives backs whole-system approach to maternity safety in new national care bundle
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed a new Maternity Care Bundle published by NHS England, aimed at improving maternity safety, reducing maternal deaths and serious illness, and tackling inequalities in care across England. The RCM was closely involved in the development of the bundle, working alongside NHS England, frontline clinicians, service users, Royal Colleges, regulators, professional bodies and charities. The […]
RCM Cymru to champion anti-racism in maternity care at Black History Month event
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Cymru is supporting this year’s TUC Cymru Black History Month event – Celebrating our past and protecting our future – highlighting how midwifery and maternity services are helping to deliver the Welsh Government’s Anti-Racism Action Plan. RCM Cymru Maternity Inclusive chairperson Jamie Morris will take to the stage at […]
Royal College of Midwives warns postcode lottery is putting mothers’ mental health at risk
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling for urgent action to end the postcode lottery in perinatal mental health care across the UK. On World Mental Health Day (10 October), the RCM is launching a new roadmap calling for improvements to perinatal mental health care, as it emerges that: One in four women experiences […]
RCM urges action to tackle ongoing issues highlighted in perinatal mortality report
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has called for action to address ongoing issues in maternity care highlighted by the latest National Perinatal Mortality Review Tool (PMRT) annual report, published today (Thursday 9 October). The report, which reviewed 4,166 cases of perinatal death across the UK between January and December 2024, shows encouraging progress in […]
RCM calls on TUC Congress to ‘stand with us to tackle inequalities in maternity care’
‘The trade union movement should be on the side of every woman and every baby whose lives are endangered by inequalities.’ That’s the message the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has taken to the 2025 Trade Union Congress (TUC) this weekend. The RCM used the first of its two motions to shine a light on […]
Balance between women’s choices and midwives’ safety must be paramount in application of new NMC principles
New principles published today by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for supporting women’s choices in maternity care are a step forward in bringing much-needed clarity, consistency and confidence to practice, according to the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). The new principles, which involved input from the RCM, have been designed to help midwives and […]
New Evidence Briefings on Relationship Between Midwifery Staffing and Care Quality Released by the University of Southampton
The University of Southampton has released two new evidence briefings exploring the relationship between midwifery staffing levels and the quality of maternity care. Compiled by researchers from the University’s workforce research group, these briefings provide vital insight into safe staffing in maternity services. The findings will be of interest to maternity professionals, policymakers and service […]
RCM gives evidence to inquiry on Black maternal health
Cultural competence, a lack of accurate data and insufficient time with midwives were all highlighted as key issues by the RCM at an inquiry into Black maternal health this week. The House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee (HSC) inquiry is aimed at assessing why, despite several polices and the creation of government […]
Improving maternity care and support for pregnant women with disabilities
In her latest blog Clare Livingstone, Head of Professional Policy and Practice shares an update on the RCM’s work to improve maternity care and support for pregnant women with disabilities Disabled women make up 20% of women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in the UK, equating to 2.9 million women. Despite this, emerging evidence here […]
UK needs to invest in healthy beginnings, RCM tells UK governments
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling on the UK’s four governments to heed the advice of the World Health Organization and invest in healthy beginnings to build hopeful futures. With investment in maternity care across all four UK nations in the doldrums, the RCM is urging politicians to change tack. The RCM has […]