Royal College of Nursing Representing nurses and nursing, promoting excellence in practice, shaping health policies

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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 2024

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 about to complete a joint forum project with Women's Health, Mental Health and Justice and Forensics Forum on raising awareness around Women’s Mental Health and Trauma Informed Care.
  • We are embarking on a new project go develop guidelines for nurses, midwives, registered nursing associate to best support women who have experienced early pregnancy loss.
  • We are working jointly with the Fertility Nursing Forum, and Women’s Health Forum on a position statement around supporting women with reproductive heath needs, in the workplace. 
  • We are working on a position statement on Nurses and registered nursing associates in Maternity Care Position Statement.
  • We are also updating our Multiple Births Midwife Standard.
  • And we are updating our Advanced Level Nursing Practice and Care of Pregnant and Postnatal Women 
  • we are also reviewing our RCN Position Statement on Registered Nursing Associates (RNAs) Training in Cervical Screening
  • We will be reviewing our Clinical Pages including Pregnancy and Disability.
  • We are also representing RCN at the next International Confederation of Midwives European meeting this year, where tow committee members will be attending board meetings and presentation Poster Presentations. 
  • We continue to represent RCN midwifery at range of national activities, including Maternal Mental Health Alliance, (see report below).

Recent activity

Forum activity in 2023

Read the Midwifery Forum Member Representation - Biannual Report - Sept 2023

Forum activity in 2023
 

Project completion and evaluation reports

Resources

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