Campaigning and opinions

The RCOG is concerned by reports from the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) about unlawful cord blood collection. The reports suggest that incidents have taken place in which cord blood collection has compromised safety and quality standards.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) celebrates International Women’s Day 2010 today.  The theme for the United Nations this year is ‘Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all’.  The RCOG endorses the UN’s promotion of women’s human rights so that improvements to women’s livelihood and wellbeing can occur in under-resourced countries.

The Royal College of Obstetricians (RCOG) welcomes the new guidance published by the Department of Health for cervical cancer screening in young women. The Clinical practice guidelines for the assessment of young women aged 20-24 with abnormal vaginal bleeding¹ aims to help GPs identify symptoms and diagnose young women with cervical cancer early.

The RCOG’s Green-top guidelines have been approved by the NHS Evidence Accreditation Scheme.  This means that the RCOG’s clinical guidelines have been recognised as a source of reliable information for healthcare professionals and the public.  Validation is awarded for a period of three years from January 2010 and is also retrospectively applicable to the RCOG’s guidelines produced since 2007.

In response to the NICE consultation on draft recommendations on weight management in pregnancy and after childbirth, Mr Tahir Mahmood, Vice President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) said, “There are pregnancy risks attached to mothers with a high BMI (>35) and we need to look at new evidence on the effects of weight gain on mother and baby, and the lifestyle and medical interventions that can help make lives healthier. 

In response to the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation on 6 February, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) states that although it is fully aware of the cultural sensitivities surrounding communities which continue to subject their prepubescent or teenage girls to ritual circumcision, it is also a brutal practice that is associated with long-term physical and psychological morbidity.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) welcomes the launch of the pathfinder pilot projects to test out the medical revalidation process. The introduction of revalidation in the UK is an important step in ensuring patient safety and quality care.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has released a report summarising progress made by the Milton Keynes Hospital Foundation Trust against the recommendations of the Intervention Report, published by the Healthcare Commission in December 2008. The Intervention Report identified a number of recommendations relating to clinical governance and the way maternity services were delivered by the trust.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) welcomes the Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group (TPIAG) Annual Report 2008/09. The report reviews the implementation of the Government’s Teenage Pregnancy Strategy and outlines key recommendations for progress.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) welcomes the Conservative Draft Manifesto 2010.  This document sets out the plans by the Conservative party to deliver patient-centred care, improve public health and to reform the NHS so that it is accessible and accountable.