Midwifery Forum community
Welcome to the RCN Midwifery community. We aim to promote the highest standards of practice and increase awareness of midwifery and reproductive health.
If you're not yet a member of the Midwifery Forum, what are you waiting for? RCN members can join forums free of charge, and benefits include regular e-newsletters from the forum keeping you up to date on topics such as good practice and forthcoming events. Each forum also has its own area on the RCN's Discussion Zone where you can network with others in your specialty. To join just call RCN Direct on 0345 772 6100 - option 1.
The new RCN Midwifery Forum
The RCN is creating a new Midwifery Forum to enhance the profile of midwifery both within and beyond the RCN.
The forum will provide an opportunity to strengthen the profession and harness the talents and experience of the RCN’s midwife members, who work across the full range of maternity services in the NHS and independent health care.
RCN Midwifery and Women’s Health Adviser Carmel Bagness said: “Midwifery is a different profession from nursing, and although midwife members can already access the full range of RCN services, it’s appropriate that they are given the opportunity to have a voice within the RCN. As a forum they will be able to share and explore their particular needs and expectations as a different professional group.”
Carmel added: “What makes midwives different is their distinct role in providing continuity of care and services that empower and support women from pre-conception, through pregnancy, birth and throughout the postnatal period.” Midwives collaborate with a wide range of other health and social care professionals, and in many cases the midwife is the named lead professional. When care is more complex they become the co-ordinator of care and work closely with others, including obstetricians, general practitioners, nurses, health visitors, social workers, maternity care assistants and physiotherapists.
Midwives work in the community and hospitals, as well as in standalone birth centres.They also work in associated services such as public health, sexual and reproductive health, including contraceptive and fertility services, management, education, research, practice and commissioning services.
Midwives and student midwife members interested in joining the new Midwifery Forum can do so by visiting www.rcn.org.uk/myrcn, by calling RCN Direct on 0345 772 6100 or by emailing carmel.bagness@rcn.org.uk