1. Home
  2. Media releases
  3. Portsmouth maternity services invest in staff to invest in better care

Portsmouth maternity services invest in staff to invest in better care

By RCM on 04 August 2017 Caring For You campaign

Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust is working with the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) to enhance the support available for midwives and maternity colleagues. The Trust’s maternity services have signed the RCM’s Caring for You Charter, which aims to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of maternity staff. This supports and enables them to continue providing the highest levels of maternity care for women and their families.

Launched in June last year the campaign is aiming to get NHS organisations across the UK to sign up to the Caring for You Charter. Almost three-quarters of all NHS trusts and boards in the UK have signed the Charter.

Gill Walton, Director of Midwifery at Portsmouth Hospital NHS Trust says: “Portsmouth Hospital Trust’s Midwifery Department is committed to providing quality care to the women we serve and is also committed to adhering  to the five key principles of the  ‘Caring for You’ charter.  On a personal note, the event was significant because it was the last official thing I did as Director of Midwifery before moving to the RCM as Chief Executive, where I will be promoting and supporting ‘Caring for you’  initiative across the UK.”

Julia Chandler, Regional Officer at the Royal College of Midwives, said: “I am delighted that the Trust has signed the Charter. They have a committed team of midwives and maternity support workers, led by an enthusiastic head of midwifery committed to the welfare of staff. This is a very positive move and I welcome their commitment to staff and the people they care for.”

When signing the charter, organisations are committing to five key principles:

  • Work in partnership with the RCM Health and Safety Representative to develop and implement an action plan about health, safety and wellbeing issues that are important to the maternity workforce and maternity service users.
  • Ensure that midwives and maternity support workers have access to a variety of shift patterns and flexible working and promote a positive workplace culture around working time including taking breaks.
  • Foster a positive working environment for all by signing up to the RCM/RCOG statement of commitment calling for zero tolerance policy on undermining and bullying behaviours.
  • Enable midwives and maternity support workers to access occupational health and other organisational policies for their mental and physical health, safety and wellbeing.
  • Nurture a compassionate and supportive workplace that cares for midwives and maternity support workers so that they can care for women and their families.

To contact the RCM Press Office on 020 7312 3456, or email pressofficer@rcm.org.uk. To contact the Portsmouth Hospital Trust’s Communication Office email: Communications@porthosp.nhs.uk or call 0239 2286 712.

Ends

Notes to editors

The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. It provides workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance and information, and learning opportunities with a broad range of events, conferences and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at www.rcm.org.uk.

Top