Wales welcomes new minister

By Helen Rogers, director of the RCM UK Board for Wales

St David’s Day conference
Our annual St David’s Day conference took place at the end of February and was a resounding success. We had the highest number of delegates yet, with a good number of those being students.

Our speakers were rated highly. We were delighted to have chief nursing officer (CNO) Professor Jean White open the conference and launch the mini-collaborative for the NHS Wales initiative ‘1000 Lives Plus’. RCM general secretary Cathy Warwick gave the Ruth Davies Memorial Lecture.

The conference was a joint event, held in collaboration with the Heads of Midwifery Advisory Group. We hope to continue this collaboration next year and will extend it to include the LSA and Heads of Midwifery Education.

Welsh Assembly elections
Lesley Griffiths AM has been appointed as the new minister for health and social services. We will be seeking an early appointment with her to discuss our key issues in relation to midwives and maternity services.

Board members will also be making appointments with their local AMs to remind them of our manifesto pledges.

Support workers’ celebration
The first 15 candidates to complete the MSW All Wales Curriculum were celebrated on 10 May at Aneurin Bevan Health Board.

The Board was represented by vice chair Julie Wall. CNO Professor Jean White presented the MSWs with their certificates, a badge and a copy of Fast facts for MSW, a pocket guide produced by the National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare, with the RCM and Aneurin Bevan. The learners shared their experiences of the curriculum and the presentation was followed by an exhibition of their work.