Chancellor’s Spending Review is high on hope but low on detail
The Royal College of Midwives has given a cautious welcome to the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review, announced today. Gill Walton, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the RCM, said: “Midwives, maternity support workers and student midwives will have been hoping for more of an indication that this Government understands the desperate need for investment in […]
Government announces pay award for RCM members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has issued a cautious welcome to the news that the governments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have accepted the pay recommendations from the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) in full. The RCM says while it believes its hard-working members deserve more, the 3.6% is a ‘small improvement’ on […]
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 […]
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 […]
Spotlight on perinatal mental health at RCM’s national conference
With more women needing mental health support during pregnancy and in the postnatal period, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is putting perinatal mental health in the spotlight at its 2025 Conference. Delegates from the midwifery community, who are gathering in Birmingham this week, will hear from experts about how to deliver the vital support […]
‘The impact you have on the women in your care is huge’ RCM’s Chief Executive tells national conference
‘Every family should leave maternity services whole and healthy’. That is the clear message from the leader of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) as she opened the RCM’s National Conference in Birmingham today. Gill Walton also reminded delegates that ‘the impact your midwifery practice has on women and their families is huge’. Highlighting staffing […]
RCM Wales calls for more support for staff to deliver maternity safety improvements
Sustained support and investment are needed to enable midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) to deliver safety improvements across Welsh maternity services says the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Wales. Everything from safe staffing levels to prioritising time for multidisciplinary training and improving organisational and working cultures must be addressed,if we are to see […]
Proud to support members when things go wrong, equally proud to improve workplace conditions
On International Workers Memorial Day, RCM’s Director for Representation and Organising shares some of the most recent workplace wins and settlements secured for RCM members. In 2024 the RCM won a staggering £1.2 million in damages and settlements for RCM members through our comprehensive legal services. This figure is almost three times the previous year’s […]
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 […]
RCM welcomes announcement of no separate pay spine for nurses
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed the news that the Government will not pursue a separate pay spine for NHS nurses. The RCM described the proposals as ‘divisive and unfair’ when it submitted evidence to the Government’s consultation in 2024 and has been staunchly opposed to the creation of a separate pay scale […]