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Need integrated services putting women at the centre of care says RCM on report on women’s health

By Need integrated services putting women at the centre of care says RCM on report on women’s health on 02 December 2019 NHS NHS Funding Revalidation RCOG - Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Abortion Public Health Reproductive Health Health and social care Prevention Women Women's Rights

Today the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has published a report ‘Better for Women’. The report calls for better joined up services and emphasises the need for national strategies to meet the needs of girls and women across their life course.

Commenting on the report, Gill Walton, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said: "This is an important report that puts women at the centre of health improvement that needs governments and those running our health services to take notice. Our whole health service needs to focus much more on prevention of ill health, and to invest in our health and social services to support that.

"Too often also women face services that are fragmented, which means that some can fall through the cracks. We need integrated services putting women at the centre of care, based on their needs. A key element of the Government’s plans for maternity services – the maternity transformation programme – is bringing services closer to the community. It would make sense to bring all these services for women and families together into one place in our communities.

"The RCM has been highlighting the impact of the menopause in the maternity workforce so the call for better menopause support is welcome and needs addressing.

"We support the need for better access to abortion services. The RCM has long been calling also for the decriminalisation of abortion, which it believes should be treated like any other medical procedure. 

"This is a significant report that has our backing and support"

The RCOG ‘Better for Women’ report can be read at https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/news/campaigns-and-opinions/better-for-women/.

The RCM 'Working with the Menopause' publication can be read at https://www.rcm.org.uk/media/1892/equality_diversity_publication_working_with_menopause.pdf. 

The RCM's Position Statement on Abortion can be read at https://www.rcm.org.uk/media/2296/abortion-statement.pdf. 

Notes to Editors

For information on the RCM Maternity Support Worker of the Year Award see https://www.rcmawards.com/.

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/.

ENDS

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