RCM Podcast

In this episode Gemma meets midwives from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds who bravely share their personal stories of how racism has impacted their midwifery careers, they speak of the challenges they’ve faced and how they have positively tackled and overcame racist behaviours in the workplace. Some of these midwives experienced racism from their colleagues others sadly from the pregnant women they were caring for and their stories need to be heard. Midwife Lola Onato also talks to Gemma about returning to her University to support diversity in student recruitment.

Gemma also speaks with Kathy Murphy Director of Midwifery at St Mary’s in Manchester and two midwives from her team who together with more midwifery colleagues have created a new book ‘With Women – A collection of Stories from Black and Asian Midwives’ aimed at increasing diversity in the midwifery workforce by sharing their personal journeys on how and why they became midwives.

This episode also includes an interview with the two women behind the grassroots campaign FIVEXMORE who continue to lobby and campaign to improve maternal and pregnancy outcomes for Black women. Gemma interviews co-founders Clo and Tunike to learn more about their maternity experiences as Black women, what drives them on, the training they have rolled out for all midwives and their plans for the future of the campaign

For anyone wanting to hear and learn more about why Race Matters more than ever in maternity services this is a must listen episode!

In this episode on safety and quality in maternity services, Gemma Murphy speaks to RCM’s Head of Safety and Quality Zeenath Uddin about the challenges facing all midwives when it comes to safety. Zeenath also talks about learning from reports, such as Each Baby Counts that have repeatedly flagged similar safety concerns and what the RCM is doing to support its members in practice.

Gemma also meets RCM member Suzanne Cunningham who is currently Director of Midwifery at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation trust and she shares her decades of experience and some practical advice on practices that improve safety.

RCM’s newly appointed Director For Professional Midwifery, Mary Ross Davie also joins the podcast to discuss the RCM’s new Solution Series which has been developed to support midwifery leaders and midwives to implement recommendations laid out in the Ockenden Review to improve the quality of care they are delivering for women and their babies.

The RCM supports and champions safe high-quality safe across all work that midwives and maternity staff do and say ‘safety in maternity services must be everyone’s business.  https://www.rcm.org.uk/media-releases/2021/march/time-lessons-are-learned-and-mistakes-not-repeated-says-rcm-as-its-launches-new-safety-series/

Maternity Support Workers (MSWs) and Maternity Care Assistants (MCA's) are vital members of the maternity team. They provide support not only to midwives, but to women and their families which is often specialist support such as parenting classes ahead of a baby being born, or specialist breastfeeding support.

In this episode, Gemma dives right into their world to learn more about what they do day to day and what drives them to do it. Catching up with RCM members from Greater Manchester, Scotland, and Norfolk who all have unique and inspiring stories to tell, this episode is not to be missed. 

In the bonus episode Gemma Murphy catches up with the RCM’s Country Directors from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland where we also hear from a community midwife about the challenges she overcame in Northern Ireland. Plus, a very special message from RCM CEO and General Secretary Gill Walton to all RCM members.

This latest episode focuses on the past year and comes a year to the day since the UK went into full lockdown, March 23, 2020. A year like no other for midwives, maternity support workers and maternity services. Birth is not something that can be rescheduled and happens 24 hours a day 365 days a year and midwives have been there delivering care to women and their babies, putting themselves at risk to ensure the safe delivery of new life into the world, but how have they coped? What have been the biggest challenges? And what has the RCM done to support its members during the pandemic?

Gemma will also talk to RCM’s CEO Gill Walton to hear her reflections on the past year and what work is currently happening at the RCM. This third instalment in the new podcast series also features midwives who share their stories and experiences of the past year.

This second episode focuses on the RCM's Caring For You Campaign. Originally launched in 2016 this RCM initiative is aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of midwives and maternity support workers. Given the current pressures of COVID-19 maternity services across the UK have never been more stretched. Staffing shortages, heavier workloads and longer shifts means stress and burnout is all too common amongst RCM members. 

In this episode Gemma Murphy catches up with Gill Adgie RCM's Regional Head for the North of England who leads on the RCM's Caring for You campaign work. Gemma also interviews Jayne Frank and Maryanne Bray two midwives from Cardiff Vale University Health Board who have been instrumental in pushing the campaign forward within their own branch and Health Board. In this episode they share lots of ideas and tips on how they've embedded the campaign in their workplace and how that has supported and improved the health and wellbeing of their colleagues.

If you are looking to launch a Caring For You initiative in your workplace, become a Health and Safety Rep or just revamp your current activities this episode is for you!   

During this first episode Gemma talks to midwives Vlora Purchase from Greenwich and Lewisham NHS Trust and safeguarding midwife Wendy Warrington from Pennine Care NHS Foundation to gain some more insight into the important work they do.  Gemma also catches up with RCM staff who developed a new RCM position statement on supporting women with severe and multiple disadvantage during pregnancy.