However, there are fears that the success of the NHSchildcare strategy could be jeopardised by new funding arrangements for co-ordinators.
The review surveyed 113 health service staff in south-east London to assess the impact of the NHSchildcare strategy on improving working life. Of the staff surveyed, 87 per cent said the support had helped them continue to work for the NHS, while 95 per cent said it had helped to reduce stress. A further 96 per cent said childcare support had enhanced the image of the NHS as a good employer.
The review suggests that childcare support is a significant factor in retaining staff and reducing turnover costs. Based on the survey statistics, 4Children estimates that investment in childcare could save the NHS 23.9m per year in turnover costs in south-east London, and more than 300m nationally.
However, Sue Finch, head of consultancy at 4Children and co-author of the review, said she believes this figure could be even higher. She said, 'These estimates are fairly conservative, but we hope our formulas can be used by individual Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to calculate their own savings and see how useful their childcare strategies really are.
'The NHS is leading the way in terms of childcare provision in the UK. We have always thought this anecdotally, but with this review we now have the evidence. From speaking to NHS staff it is clear that they are enormously grateful for quality childcare provision and for childcare co-ordinators to talk through their childcare options with.'
Yet at the same time there are continued fears that a lack of funding for childcare co-ordinators could threaten the future of the NHS childcare strategy.
Delivery of funding for NHS childcare co-ordinators was changed in April.
The money is now included in the general funding allocations made to PCTs and it is no longer ring-fenced for childcare. Ann Munday, sector lead for childcare at the south-west London NHS, said she is worried that the money will not be used for co-ordinators and may be diverted to other areas.
Ms Munday said, 'In south- west London we have not received our money since April. I am responsible for eight co-ordinators whose short-term contracts start to expire in May. At least one of them is looking for another job because the funding has not come through.'
Ms Munday said she believes this situation is replicated across the country and that it is vital to secure the childcare co-ordinator posts immediately. She said, 'The childcare strategy has started extremely well, as this new impact review shows. If the situation in south-east London reflects what is happening across the whole country, then it is clear that the impact of the co-ordinators has been tremendous. The good work that has been started will not disappear, but if we do not receive the funding it means that new NHS staff will not have childcare co-ordinators to turn to.'
Ms Munday added, 'It will take a lot of campaigning to get this money recognised and ring-fenced.'
The NHS Alliance, which represents PCTs, has said the money will be passed on by the PCTs shortly. NHS Alliance nurse lead Yvonne Sawbridge said, 'Funding for childcare co-ordinators was supplied to PCTs in April and they will deal with it as soon as possible. I would be very surprised if the PCTs did not use the money for co-ordinators, because they are such an important part of recruiting and retaining NHS staff.'