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RCM welcomes “ambitious” commitments in NHS People Plan

on 30 July 2020 RCM Safety Government NHS BAME NHS Staff Covid-19 BME staff NHS England Pay and Agenda For Change Flexible Working

We need to see the ambitious proposals become a reality on the ground say the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), welcoming the new NHS People Plan.

Jon Skewes, Executive Director of External Relations at the Royal College of Midwives, said: "This crisis has shown how valuable the NHS is, and how important it is to get this plan right for its dedicated staff. NHS maternity services were facing significant challenges before the pandemic due to increasing demands and staffing shortages, and any plan must address those issues head on. There is though much to welcome in the Governments ambitious proposals including the focus on recruitment and retention, health and wellbeing and commitments to the black, Asian and minority ethnic workforce.”

The Plan includes promises around flexible working, risk assessments for vulnerable staff, and a £10 million fund to support the education and training of the next generation of professionals. 

Jon Skewes added, “We now need to see the words in this document become concrete fact in our maternity services and across the NHS, improving the working lives of its staff and giving the NHS the tools and resources it needs to deliver the safest and best possible care. This means significantly increasing our midwifery workforce and properly valuing all NHS staff with a substantial increase in pay. Lessons must be learned from the response to COVID-19 to ensure that maternity services and the wider NHS are better equipped to face future challenges.”

ENDS

To contact the RCM media office call 020 7312 3456 or email [email protected]. Notes to Editors

The NHS People Plan 2020/21 can be read at https://www.england.nhs.uk/ournhspeople/.

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/.

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