Campaigners are fighting to keep a hospital nursery open after the NHS cast doubt over its future.
Cedar House Nursery, in Camberwell which has provided care for the children of NHS staff at the South London and Maudsley Trust (SLAM) for decades, is due to close in 2023 when the existing building is demolished.
Yet campaigners are concerned about what child care will be provided until a new facility opens in 2028, claiming there is no provider to run the nursery in this interim period.
“In the current post-pandemic London climate, where high early years childcare costs provide an often insurmountable barrier for women returning to work, and many NHS posts already vacant, we need to fight to keep an affordable, high quality and long-standing nursery provider available to NHS staff,” said one campaigner.
“We should be opening many more of these provisions, not closing them,” they added.
A petition to save the nursery has been signed more than one thousand times.
“The Cedar House Nursery based in Mapother House will remain open until summer 2023 after which it will close to allow for the once in a lifetime £120m re-development of our Maudsley Hospital campus,” said a spokesperson for the SLAM NHS Foundation Trust.
“We are in contact and meeting with everyone directly affected, including reviewing the waiting list and alternative options,” they added.
SLAM has tried to reassure staff that care of their children will not be disrupted.
“We’ve been made aware of some miscommunication about our nursery closing. The nursery is open. We are building a brand-new nursery as part of our £120m development. This will have outside play space,” said NHS Maudsley. on Twitter. “In the interim period between building work we are working on a positive solution.”
Campaigners have also complained about a lack of communication from the Trust, saying there has been very little consultation or information on the decision-making process.
There are additional worries that the existing staff at the nursery, who have been recognised via a number of awards, such as the 2021 NHS Unsung Heros, will also lose their jobs.
Those battling to save the nursery claim they have been told the Trust is now reviewing the needs of staff and are exploring the feasibility of a private nursery provider, although there are doubts if these providers have been selected.
“The withdrawal of this key staff benefit is likely to have a significant impact on the families of many NHS staff, particularly disadvantaging women,” said one campaigner. “It would result in a significant cost barrier for many SLAM staff hoping to return to work or being able to return to work flexibly after having a child, and is likely to result in committed and skilled staff leaving SLAM.”
Almost two thirds of women who return to work after becoming mothers are forced to reduce their hours, change jobs or leave the workforce, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.