Our work
How we represent forum members
- Representing the RCN at external events and meetings such as All Party Parliamentary Meetings, national strategic meetings, and the International Confederation of Midwives annual meetings and European meetings.
- Contributing to national and global consultations including NICE consultations on guideline development.
- Contributing to RCN publications.
- Attending and participating in RCN Congress.
Read our Midwifery Forum Charter 2023
Contact
Professional Lead: Carmel Bagness - Follow the forum on Twitter: @RCNMidwives and the forum on Facebook
Find out more about Midwives at the RCN, see: Midwifery at the RCN: supporting midwives, student midwives and maternity support workers
Our strategy
- Providing an effective committee. The committee is in regular contact via email and teleconference.
- Ensuring the RCN and the Midwifery Forum members are kept up to date on progress with reports.
- Maintaining a visible presence on the RCN website and blogging on issues relating to midwifery.
- Horizon scanning for projects and initiatives that the Midwifery Forum can undertake or support in order to promote midwifery.
What we are currently working on
- We are embarking on a joint forum project with Women's Health, Mental Health and Justice and Forensics on raising awareness around Women’s Mental Health and Trauma Informed Care.
Recent activity
Forum activity in 2023
- We are embarking on a joint forum project with Women's Health, Mental Health and Justice and Forensics on raising awareness around Women’s Mental Health and Trauma Informed Care.
- We will also be working with the Woman Health Forum reviewing the RCN resources guidelines for Termination of Pregnancy.
- We will be reviewing our Clinical Pages including Pregnancy and Disability.
- We are also representing RCN at the next International Confederation of Midwives Triennium meeting this year, where tow committee members will be attending board meetings and presentation Poster Presentations.
- We are representing RCN midwifery at range of national activities, including Maternal Mental Health Alliance.
Read our annual report for a summary of forum activity in 2022.
Resources
- Transitions from Fertility to Maternity Care (2022). This guidance is primarily to raise awareness of possible pathways of care for women and others (their partners/support networks) as they travel through fertility treatment and pregnancy, and how they can best be supported by the health care professionals they encounter along their journey.
- Pregnancy and disability. In 2021 we developed a series of clinical web pages to support easy access to resources around pregnancy and disability.
- Multiple birth midwife standards. In 2021 we published a nationally recognised set of standards to support best practice in multiple births care throughout pregnancy and childbirth.
- Bladder and Bowel Care in Childbirth. Bladder and bowel care during childbirth is a critical part of maternity care, as the consequences can have short and long-term consequences for the woman and her family. This guidance provides information about bladder and bowel care throughout pregnancy, labour and into the postnatal period.
- Banner and poster. To develop a nationally recognised poster and banners for use by the RCN Midwifery Forum to showcase midwifery at the RCN.
- Managing the Disposal of Pregnancy Remains. This updated publication is intended to provide clear guidance for all health care professionals to have in place sound systems and processes to ensure the safe and appropriate disposal of pregnancy remains, where the pregnancy has ended before the 24th week of gestation. This includes following an ectopic pregnancy, early intrauterine fetal death, miscarriage, or a medically or surgically induced termination of pregnancy.
- Nurses in maternity care.
Nurses in maternity care: RCN report
Maternity workforce survey report
Nursing in maternity care: literature review.
Leading, collaborating, influencing
The RCN and its forums are invited to participate in many cross working and multidisciplinary workstreams, including working closely with key stakeholders such as:
- Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA). A charity and coalition of 100 organisations working together with experts by experience and clinicians to achieve our shared vision and improve the lives of women and families in the UK affected by perinatal mental illness.
Page last updated - 26/03/2024