RCM comments on Jeremy Hunt Conference Speech

By RCM on 04 October 2017 Midwife Shortage Flexible Working Pay and Agenda For Change

Today (3rd October 2017) Jeremy Hunt gave a speech at the Conservative party Conference in which he pledged to create additional training posts for student nurses and more flexible working for NHS staff. Commenting on the speech, Suzanne Tyler, Director for services to Members at the Royal College of Midwives, said: “This is a welcome commitment to the NHS and may go some way to addressing the often woeful staffing levels

“England also remains 3500 full time midwives short of the numbers needed and this is a shortage that has lasted for over a decade. Midwives are leaving the profession because of workloads and staff shortages*, and Mr Hunt needs to show his commitment to mothers, babies and staff  by giving England’s hard-pressed maternity services the midwives it needs to provide safe, high quality care.

“His commitment to flexible working is also welcome but we need to see the details of this to see how far he is going to support NHS staff.

“We also need to see the pay cap for NHS staff lifted and for our hard working midwives, nurses and other staff to be given the fair pay award that they deserve after years of pay freezes.”

To contact the RCM Press Office call 020 7312 3456, or email pressofficer@rcm.org.uk.

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Notes to editors

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