RCM responds to NAO report on Readying the NHS and adult social care in England for COVID-19

on 12 June 2020 Midwives RCM Midwifery Maternity Services RCM CEO Covid-19

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) calls for lessons to be learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic responding to a National Audit Office (NAO) report published today.

Gill Walton, Chief Executive of the RCM, said: "Surveys of our members and representatives during the pandemic have shown that many were not getting the PPE they needed or the training and guidance to use them. There is a similar picture around the lack of testing, with midwives and maternity support workers who were off with COVID-19 or with symptoms not being able to get back into work as quickly as they could have.

" It is thanks to the incredible commitment of maternity staff that services have responded so well, but the system should be supporting them to do this, not hampering their efforts. They are still facing these challenges but as we move out of this crisis lessons must be learnt so that if this happens again, our NHS and its staff are equipped, prepared and safe, so that they can continue to deliver safe and high quality care as they are doing in this pandemic."

ENDS

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

The NAO report can be read at https://www.nao.org.uk/report/readying-the-nhs-and-adult-social-care-in-england-for-covid-19/.

To view the RCM’s resources on COVID-19 including information and guidance for NHS maternity staff and pregnant women, visit https://www.rcm.org.uk/coronavirus/.

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/.