Royal College of Midwives

It has existed under its present name since 1947, and is the United Kingdom's only trade union or professional organisation for midwives and those that support them.

Shortly afterwards its name was changed to the Midwives' Institute and there followed a period of about twenty years of campaigning before the government was persuaded to regulate the profession.

By 1901 the Institute had established a scheme for providing insurance for midwives who were forced to be in quarantine after attending a case of puerperal fever, had to defend themselves at inquests or pay fees to doctors.

By 1919, local authorities were required to pay the doctor's fee and then recoup the sum back from the family.

This encouraged training, introduced a diploma for those who passed an examination and instituted five-yearly refresher courses.