Leicester maternity services invest in staff to provide better care

By RCM on 14 February 2017 Caring For You Charter

Leicester’s Hospitals is working with the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) to improve the support available for midwives and maternity colleagues. The maternity services at Leicester’s Hospitals have signed the RCM’s ‘Caring for You Charter’, which aims to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of maternity staff, as well as supporting and enabling them to continue providing the highest level of maternity care for women and their families.

Launched in June last year, the campaign aims to get all NHS organisations across the UK to sign up to the ‘Caring for You Charter’. Those organisations that sign up commit to five key principles such as nurturing a compassionate and supportive workplace that cares for midwives and support workers, as well as adopting a positive working environment for staff by implementing a zero tolerance policy on bullying behaviour

Another key principle under the Charter is ensuring that maternity staff has access to a variety of shift patterns, as well as flexible working and a positive workplace culture.

Elaine Broughton, Head of Midwifery at Leicester’s Hospitals, said: “I’m delighted to sign the Charter to show our commitment to our staff and to work towards improving their working life as well as supporting our Wellbeing at Work campaign.”

Suzanne Miller, Regional Officer at the Royal College of Midwives, said: “I am delighted that Leicester’s Hospitals 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 her staff. This is a very positive move and I welcome their commitment to staff and the people they care for.”

To contact the RCM Press Office call 020 7312 3456 or email pressofficer@rcm.org.uk. To contact University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust call Katharine Razak on 0116 258 8524 or email Katharine.razak@uhl-tr.nhs.uk.

ENDS

Notes to editors

About the RCM

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.