08:45

Registration

SESSION 1: WELCOME ADDRESS

09:30

Chairs’ welcome

Esther Watson, Joanne Oliver and Natalie Foubister, RCM SMWG members

09:35

Listening to students is pivotal to changing the face of midwifery

Debby Gould, Chair, The Royal College of Midwives’ Council

SESSION 2: CHANGING FACE OF CHILDBIRTH –
INFLUENCE OF THE MEDIA

Capturing how the media influences the provision of maternity services and choices available to women; how it raises the expectations of women regarding perfect motherhood; the role of celebrity figures and also the ability to return to work within 48 hours. Speakers will explore these mixed messages and also messages that are contradictory to professional advice and knowledge to benefit women.

Introduction

Esther Watson, Joanne Oliver and Natalie Foubister, RCM SMWG members

Julia Hobsbawm, Chief Executive, Editorial Intelligence

Maria Doré, Head of Midwifery, Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton

Tracey Humphrey, Research Fellow, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Aberdeen

09:55

Julia Hobsbawm, Chief Executive, Editorial Intelligence and author of The See-Saw: 100 Ideas for Work Life Balance

10:05

Maria Doré, Head of Midwifery, Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton

10:15

Tracey Humphrey, Research Fellow, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Aberdeen and Consultant Midwife, Grampian

10:25

10:40

Refreshments, exhibition and networking

SESSION 3: CHANGING FACE OF CHILDBIRTH –
ARE THE NEEDS OF THE DIVERSE POPULATION BEING MET?

Focusing on inequalities in health. Speakers will examine the reasons why maternal and infant morbidity and mortality are high in these groups of women and suggest ways to improve their maternity outcomes.

11:10

Introduction

Letitia Funnell and Ramona Rodder, RCM SMWG members

11:15

Shirley Stronge, Teaching Fellow – Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast

11:25

Ros Davies, Chief Executive, Women and Children First UK

11:35

Yana Richens, Consultant Midwife, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

11:45

12:00

Lunch, exhibition and networking

SESSION 4: STUDENT MATTERS FROM THE RCM

Focusing on the joint survey undertaken by The Royal College of Midwives and The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to highlight the experiences of student midwives and medical students in clinical practice.  This presentation will invite audience participationto hear student midwives' views and responses to the survey findings.

13:05

Sue Jacob, Student Services Advisor, Learning Research and Practice Development

Maggie O’ Brien, Director of Midwifery, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

SESSION 5: THE CHANGING CULTURE OF MIDWIFERY – RESTORING THE BALANCE BETWEEN NORMALITY, SAFETY AND RISK

Reflecting on why women in the UK – a developed and educated nation with a National Health Service - continue to have high intervention rates. What can be done to reduce these?

13:45

Introduction

Charlotte Elliott and Alex Birch, RCM SMWG members

13:50

Professor Hannah Dahlen, Associate Professor of Midwifery, University of Western Sydney and Vice President, Australian College of Midwives

14:00

Dr Melissa Whitworth, Consultant Obstertrician, Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust

14:10

Lyndsay Durkin, Midwife Co-ordinator/Clinical Lead for Normality, Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust

14:20

14.30

Refreshments, exhibition and networking

SESSION 6: ALTERNATIVE FUNDING MODELS FOR MIDWIFERY SERVICES

Exploring the differences in facilities and outcomes between NHS and private maternity care provision.  It will also explore why some women choose private maternity care.  The session aims to make the delegates aware of the sharp contrast in care received by women between different providers and the cost of different models of care.

Introduction

Katrina Catterall and Amanda Stothers, RCM SMWG members

15:05

Lillian Bondo, President, Danish Association of Midwives

15:15

Alex Hewitt, Obstetric Unit Manager, The Portland Hospital

15:25

Annie Francis, Board Member, Independent Midwives UKl

15:40

15:55

SESSION 7: EVERY MOTHER NEEDS A MIDWIFE – MIDWIVES MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO WOMEN’S LIVES

Cathy Warwick CBE, General Secretary, The Royal College of Midwives

Evaluation of Student Conference

This session takes place in the main auditorium.  Student midwives join the RCM annual conference to hear:

16:15

RCM BIG DEBATE

Who do we really work for?

Chair: Jenni Murray, Broadcaster, Woman’s Hour, Radio 4

Panelists:

Annie Francis, Board Member, Independent Midwives UK

Belinda Phipps, Chief Executive, National Childbirth Trust

Lynne Pacanowski, Director of Midwifery and Head of Gynaecology, Nursing, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Paul Corrigan CBE, Senior Associate, The King’s Fund

Lillian Bondo, President, Danish Association of Midwives

17:15

Conference closes