April 2004

Child’s play for Alfred Hospital staff and families

Nurses and other staff will be able to better fit their family responsibilities into their work commitments with the opening of a purpose-built childcare centre at the Alfred Hospital.

Opening the new 60-place centre, Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said the family-friendly service would help encourage staff, particularly mothers, to return to work after they had started a family.

‘The Government has had great success with its nurse recruitment campaign over the past three years with some 4,000 extra nurses now working in the public hospital system.

‘About a third of the Alfred’s workforce comprises nurses–predominantly female–and facilities such as childcare are of great importance in enabling mothers to return to work or continue working.’

The Alfred itself has nearly 4,000 staff and treats more than 250,000 patients each year.

The centre will be open from 6.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday with both permanent and occasional care.

It is primarily for the children of Alfred staff, although there are some places available for families from the local community.

Ms Pike said the centre enabled staff to have contact with their children during working hours and eased the mad scramble to drop youngsters off and then get to work on time.