Dear Royal College of Midwives,
When I qualified
as a midwife, I didn't feel that I needed a graduation ceremony. I
was a mature student, with a grandmother born on Halloween 1900 and a
midwife for her whole career, my training was always on the cards. It
was only when invited to attend a meeting to discuss the up and
coming 'Global Midwifery Twinning Project' (I was already involved in
Nepal), and I stepped up towards the huge blue door of RCM head
quarters, that I truly felt I'd 'earned my colours'.
I'm proactive and
incredibly passionate about midwifery, both at home and overseas.
Like you, I am keen for midwives to have a voice and a future. Being
a member of RCM has been one way for me to support this.
However, I have
found it necessary to secure more union support than you can
offer..... for my overseas midwifery, my volunteering midwifery, and
my independent consultancy midwifery. I'm sure you'll not have missed
the fact that all of these ways of working are vital to keeping
midwifery available to all, and help to protect what autonomy we have
as midwives.
Please will you
end my membership from today onwards, as I have had to start union
cover with Royal College of Nursing. They will provide, and for a
smaller fee, professional indemnity cover to include all of the above
activities.
I'd like you to
know that I have hated the thought of ending my membership. It feels
so wrong, and I'm deeply saddened. I am also quite angry that Royal
College of Midwives are unable to support me and protect me while I
help to take midwifery 'out there'. It matters to me, it matters to
our profession, and it matters to women. I don't doubt this isn't the
first letter you've received on the issue, but I'd love it to be one
of the last. I also appreciate there are likely to be numbers, funds,
and other restrictions in place for RCM, and I'd love to know your
reasons for not fully supporting midwifery. I'll be back, quick as a
flash, if you change your provision of support and cover.
Mostly, I need
you to know that I'm gutted. I feel strongly, and need you to
appreciate that. And lastly, I want to thank you for support you have
given me until now.
Sincerely,
I received a standard formatted reply from RCM, rather than a personal one, which didn't explain why they couldn't support me.
I feel let down.
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