RCM chief executive's opening conference speech

She discussed the ‘rhetoric versus the reality’ and the under-resourcing of midwifery in her 20-minute speech.

She covered the lack of funding and job posts and the threats posed by the NHS overhaul, while the UK is still experiencing a ‘baby boom’.

‘There is no doubt that there is a growing disparity between the demands that are being made of midwives and the resources at their disposal’, she said.

‘How can midwifery services continue to have money taken out of them without creating a negative human cost?’

Discussing the shortage of midwives – and the RCM’s call for government promises of more midwives – she flagged-up the shortage of positions available for student midwives when they have qualified.

Cathy said ‘the only way to solve this problem’ is for more positions to be made available for recently qualified student midwives.   

She continued: ‘Midwives have already delivered more with less over the last ten years. How much more we can carry on doing this is what I want to ask the politicians.’

In her speech she also talked about the great work that is being done in trusts across the UK, including areas where home birth figures are on the up and where more women are having waterbirths. 

She said: ‘Despite all these difficulties, it is an absolute tribute to our profession that midwives are rising to this occasion. And remember that we, as individual midwives, can make a big difference to the women we care for.’

In conclusion, she said: ‘There are many, many challenges for us, but I believe you are doing a wonderful job. The RCM is right behind you. Together I believe we can overcome the problems.’