RCM Scotland calls for ‘a significant’ pay increase for its members  

Today RCM Scotland has called for ‘a significant and above inflation’ pay increase that reflects the true cost of living in Scotland in its pay claim for the 2025/26 pay round. The joint unions’ pay claim was submitted by the Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee (STAC), of which the RCM is a member. It has […]

RCM Wales welcomes rollout of electronic health record and maternity app

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Wales has welcomed an announcement from Welsh Government that electronic health records (EHR) and an app for maternity care will be introduced by March 2026. Maternity services can deliver safer care with the use of digital technology says the RCM as the EHR will enable pregnant women to […]

RCM welcomes long overdue pay award for members in Northern Ireland

A long overdue pay award has finally arrived for midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) in Northern Ireland. In a letter to Health and Social Care unions the Minister for Health Mike Nesbitt has confirmed that RCM members in Northern Ireland will receive a pay rise of 5.5%. The proposed pay award is on par […]

Government pay recommendation ‘not good enough’ says RCM

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has described the Government’s pay recommendation of 2.8% for 2025/26 as ‘not good enough’ and says it won’t meet the expectations of its hard-working members. Furthermore, moving the crucial structural negotiations which formed part of this year’s pay round into 2025/26 runs counter to the Government’s previous commitment of […]

Maternal care for pregnant migrant women needs radical improvement, says RCM

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling for migrant women to receive adequate language support, including translation services, and access to maternity care via multiple routes when they need it. The call comes as MBRRACE-UK published its State of the Nation report on the maternity care recent migrant women receive, which found that just […]

‘Urgent action needed to improve maternity outcomes for women and babies’

‘Maternal deaths linked to issues in pregnancy show just how desperately maternity services need more specialist midwives’ that’s the message from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) as it responds to analysis by the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London who reviewed data released between 2022 and 2024 from the National Patient […]

New figures show shock fall in number of UK-educated midwives joining NMC Register

New data from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has revealed a shock fall in the number of UK-educated midwives who are joining the register. The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has described the decrease of 12.5% as ‘significant’, given the understaffing challenges blighting maternity services. The RCM has been warning of the impact of […]

Encouraging improvements in maternity services, but still work to do says RCM

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed the results of a national survey by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which shows that women’s experiences of maternity care are improving in some areas despite the challenges facing services and staff. The RCM says it’s pleased to see an increase in the levels of perinatal mental […]

Renfrew report must be catalyst for much needed change, says RCM

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has said it’s ‘hopeful’ the long-awaited Renfrew Report will bring about a much-needed reset of midwifery services in Northern Ireland. Welcoming the report’s publication, the RCM said listening, understanding, and acting on the experiences of women and midwifery staff must be the driving force for change. However, the RCM […]

RCM Wales welcomes re-opening of Neath Port Talbot Hospital Birth Centre

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Wales has welcomed the long awaited re-opening of the Neath Port Talbot Hospital Birth Centre, and the reintroduction of the Swansea Bay Home Birth Service which will give women in the area much greater choice over how they give birth. The Birth Centre closed in September 2021 because […]