University College London Hospital (UCLH) prides itself in being one of the leading UK teaching hospitals along with investing in their workforce to be an employer of choice. The UCLH MOUSEHOLE NURSERY, based at 23 Devonshire Street, London, W1G 6PG, is an essential institution for UCLH Healthcare professionals, offering quality childcare and early education to their families and is vital to UCLH’s ambition to invest in its workforce.
Unfortunately, the building lease is set to end by April 2024, and the future of the nursery is in jeopardy. Despite our efforts to seek answers and solutions, the little information provided so far regarding finances and plans for the nursery has left us deeply concerned. It has been suggested that the Nursery is not sustainable in the current financial climate which would be devastating for our children's development and our ability as working parents to balance our family and professional lives. Hospital-based childcare is vital for NHS staff with irregular hours, and losing this facility could hinder the patient care we deliver.
Closing the nursery would aggravate the trust’s difficulties with recruiting and retaining staff, would undermine investment in their diverse workforce and would affect women disproportionately. In the context of the government prioritising accessible and affordable childcare to encourage parents, especially women, back to work, UCLH would be doing the opposite.
In addition, the nursery's dedicated staff, who have been providing exceptional care for almost two decades, face uncertainty and potential redundancy. Their expertise and compassion are invaluable to UCLH and losing them would be an unquantifiable loss.
We need your support to raise awareness and preserve our UCLH Mousehole Nursery and its incredible staff. Together, we can show the University College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust the significance of this facility in our lives and the wider community.
Please sign this petition and join us in urging the Trust to strongly consider their decision and ensure the continuation of our beloved nursery, supporting the working Healthcare professionals among us.
Thank you for your support.