NHS Childcare Strategy

February 12 2003 - The Government believes that it is on track to ensure that all NHS staff will have access to a Childcare Co-ordinator who can help them meet family needs.

The ambitious £70 million childcare strategy has led to 124 co-ordinators in place across the country so far with another 50 currently being appointed.

They are also committed to providing 150 on-site nurseries with 7,500 subsidised childcare places by 2004. 120 schemes are already open or in the pipeline, providing 5,200 places.

A new central database at www.doh.gov.uk/iwl has been launched, allowing NHS staff to easily be able to find details of their local Childcare Co-ordinator.

The database is being launched at the second annual NHS childcare conference 'Beyond Workplace Nurseries'. The conference has been organised by the Daycare Trust in association with the NHS. It is seen as a key element in driving forward the Childcare Strategy. NHS Childcare Co-ordinators are developing local childcare schemes which provide good quality, affordable and accessible care to meet the needs of staff; as well as provide advice and support to parents working in the NHS.

Additionally, many Childcare Co-ordinators are involved in setting up schemes to provide flexible short notice and emergency cover to address the needs of doctors - particularly junior doctors. This will create stability for their children and overcome problems surrounding waiting lists.

Health Minister John Hutton said, "The NHS Childcare Strategy is a key element in making the NHS a model employer as well as enabling it to deliver its priorities over the next three years. The NHS is doing more to provide childcare support for staff than any other employer in the country. Such investment will encourage more people to stay in the health service and more people to come back."

Andrew Foster, NHS Human Resources Director, said, "The challenge of balancing childcare responsibilities and employment is often a source of considerable stress for parents. We are committed to improving the working lives of NHS staff by providing high quality, value-for-money childcare which meets their diverse needs. We need to ensure that this message is reaching potential recruits and returners."

The NHS Childcare Strategy is viewed as a key element in improving the working lives of staff in the NHS and attracting returners. Over 250,000 NHS staff have children under 14 and it is believed that more nurses and doctors would return to the NHS if they could get childcare help.