What does RCM mean in PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is the professional voice and trade union for midwives in the UK. We provide professional leadership, advice, support and representation to promote and protect women's choices in pregnancy and childbirth.

The RCM actively works with governments, policy makers, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to help create positive change for midwifery and maternity services and ensure it best meets the needs of mothers, babies and their families.

We offer midwives a range of support services, including guidance on professional standards, information about working conditions, education and training opportunities, professional networking opportunities and advice on legal issues.

As an independent regulator we take a proportionate approach to assessing practice that allows us to understand circumstances when deviating from expected standards may be necessary or appropriate. Our emphasis is on helping registrants learn from any errors or omissions in their practice, so that they can improve their performance at all times.

Yes. Our formal advocacy campaigns are designed to influence health policy making at national level. RCM also provides evidence-based advice to Government departments about policies that affect maternity care or midwifery regulation.

All UK qualified midwives are eligible to become members of the Royal College of Midwives. Additionally registered nurses who have completed a specialist Midwife Practitioner course are eligible for membership as Associate Members of the RCM as well as those studying towards becoming qualified midwives who wish to engage with our activities early on in their career path.

A subscription fee applies which depends upon your job sector/professional status within maternity services/type of member category chosen (individual or organisational). You will also pay separately if you wish to attend meetings/events organised by the College such as conferences or seminars.

The College runs a wide variety of educational programmes including online learning packages; face-to-face courses and webinars open or available exclusively for members; supported distance learning modules; seminars aimed at specific specialties; modules designed for managers; mentorship support programmes; skills workshops; short courses such as First Aid & Emergency Obstetric Skills (EOS); refresher courses; summer schools; flexible study options such as eLearning packages tailored for work outside normal office hours.