Royal College of Midwives

Contact Details

International Office
15 Mansfield St
London 
W1G 9NH

Telephone: 00 44 (0)207 312 3535 
Fax:  00 44 (0)207 312 3536

E-mail:  Frances.Day-Stirk@rcm.org.uk
Website: http://www.rcm.org.uk/

Director of Learning, Research Practice development Department: Mrs Frances Day Stirk

International Activities

Introduction

As the largest and oldest midwifery organisation in the world – established since 1881,   the Royal College of Midwives its Royal Charter in 1994.   The College represents 95% of all practising midwives in the United Kingdom on professional and trade union matters.  The Royal College of Midwives is committed to promoting the art of science and of midwifery at a world-wide levels and to exchanging information and ideas on the profession to improve international understanding

• Designated  as the only WHO Collaborating Centre for midwifery in the world since  1992.   This status promotes confidence and credibility  amongst  the  governments in developing countries and non-governmental organisations to work with the RCM
• International Day of the Midwife has been celebrated each year on the 5th  May  since 1991.  The  RCM members  throughout the UK raise funds to support Safe Motherhood projects in developing countries. 
• Provide support, midwifery expertise and financial assistance to   Safe Motherhood projects initiatives.
• Develop refresher courses and other bespoke programmes
• Participation in international conferences and courses
  

International Links

The RCM has a membership status within the organisations listed below:

• International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) – Founder member of the ICM which provide world-wide links with 78 countries
• European Forum for Nursing and Midwifery Association & WHO – One of 5 full member associations representing midwifery, developing European links through the WHO collaborating Centre networks and European Union
• Royal Colleges’ International Forum
• UK Committee for UNICEF
• International exchange programme for UK and overseas midwives and students
• RCM Midwives' Journal – distributed to many of the ICM member associations
  

Education and Training:

The RCM developed a curriculum for Indonesian midwife teachers – teaching the trainers to impart best practice models. The RCM took lead in collaboration with University of Surrey to update the midwife teachers professional midwifery knowledge and practice and expose them to adult learning theories – a modified version of post graduate certificate in adult education.

The RCM is currently developing proposals to develop a needs based midwifery education Programme for Macedonia; this will incorporate EEC midwifery directives.

The RCM  hosts educational visits for overseas health care visitors and assists research fellows with literature resources and professional matters on midwifery.

Consultancy:

• Curriculum & programme development at undergraduate and postgraduate level
• Support and assistance with forming midwives association