Nepean Hospital: Nurses, midwives could be forced to quit as child care centre to be privatised

Nurses and midwives at a major western Sydney hospital have revealed they could be forced to quit their jobs after management revealed a publicly-run childcare centre would be privatised.

Frontline nursing and midwifery staff at a western Sydney hospital say they could be forced to quit their jobs — as management make a shock move to scrap publicly-run childcare services and install a private provider.

Staff at Nepean Hospital this month were shocked to be told their colleagues operating the NSW Health-run childcare services at Somerset Cottage would be made redundant and a private company brought in to take over with “no consultation”.

The move sparked calls for Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District management to reverse the decision, however, medical staff say their pleas were ignored, with no response issued following a swath of questions and a “formal complaint”.

Inside Somerset cottage 2020 redevelopment

In a statement to staff, Nepean Hospital corporate services director, Peter Hinrichsen, said NBMLHD was “reviewing how best to deliver affordable, high-quality and convenient on-site early childhood education services for staff on the Nepean Hospital campus”.

“We are committed to having an on-site early childhood centre for staff on the Nepean

Hospital campus,” he said. “We have called for expressions of interest (EOI) from alternate providers to operate the early childhood education service on the Nepean Hospital campus.

“By having on-campus early childhood education services conducted by an experienced

external provider, NBMLHD can redirect resources to its core business – delivering high

quality and comprehensive healthcare.

“We are consulting throughout the process with our Somerset Cottage staff, who have been delivering a high-quality service that is greatly appreciated by many parents like you.”

However, the Penrith Press understands staff were informed of “redundancy offers” to childcare workers at the hospital-based facility.

NBMLHD representatives failed to answer questions around consultation with staff about a change of management, whether staff would see an increase in fees under a private company, or where Somerset Cottage childcare workers would be retained under the change of management.

Hospital Services director, Brett Williams, said “professional early childhood services, onsite and those off campus, are essential for many of our staff to balance work and parenting responsibilities”.

“By having early childhood education services conducted by an experienced external provider, NBMLHD can redirect resources to its core business of healthcare,” he said.

“All children currently enrolled, or on the waiting list, will not lose their place.

“When an alternate provider is selected, we will ensure services are not disrupted during the

changeover — we are keeping parents updated on the process and are supporting Somerset Cottage staff.”

Theatre nurse Hayley Clear has two children enrolled at Somerset Cottage.

Speaking as a member of the Nurses and Midwives Association, Ms Clear said she was “appalled and betrayed” over how the news of the pending privatisation had been delivered.

“It has been just distressing and anxiety provoking, the last few days since the news it has been hard to deliver quality patient care as we were distracted and concerned for our kids wellbeing wondering where they would be, and if we could even work future shifts depending on when the centre would be open”. Ms Clear said.

NMA Members outside Somerset cottage

“I very much believe the district has overlooked the wellbeing of both the parents, children and staff at Somerset with this move.

“Its very ironic that all childcare (services) work under a framework with their first outcome to maintain the sense of belonging, when this definitely hasn’t been considered in this decision”.

Ms Clear also voiced concerns that if the privatisation went ahead, staff would no longer be prioritised to enrol their children into the centre.

NMA member, Hayley Clear.

“It means staff will have to look elsewhere for childcare”. Ms Clear said.

“Somerset is open from 6am to 6pm, but other centres don’t have the same hours so we’d have to leave work early and leave our patients in an unsatisfactory state and it would also mean staff wouldn’t be able to work certain shifts or days.”

Meanwhile, theatre nurse Jake Rahkala’s eldest son currently attends Somerset cottage, with his youngest son enrolled to start next year.

The NSWNMA member said he was concerned about the quality of care decreasing under the proposed privatisation.

Jake Rahkala father-of-two and NMA member.

“I’m mainly worried that if the centre gets privatised the quality and the amount of care for our kids, as well as the staff to child ratios,” he said.

“The current staff have built up really great relations with the kids and put in so much time and effort looking after them, especially over Covid.”

Midwifery specialist, Suzanne McDale, was recruited by the district nine years ago from Ireland.

The midwife’s daughter and son, aged four and two, are enrolled in the Somerset cottage.

NMA Member Susie McDale with her two children.

The association member said she was already anticipating changes she will have to make of the move goes ahead.

“It’s definitely going to impact us as working mums, I‘m part time and it’s going to affect the amount of hours that I can do.”

“Our children attend three days a week and I’m not comfortable handing my kids over to people I don’t know three days a week,” Ms McDale said.

So I’m going to drop my kids hours down and drop my working hours down. There’s already a shortage of midwives so it’s in their interest to let us do our jobs by letting us look after our kids.”

A play area inside Somerset Cottage. Source: NSW Health

Meanwhile another midwife and association member, Christine Kreagh, has enrolled all three of her children at Somerset Cottage, with two of them still attending the daycare centre. Speaking as a member of the Nurses and Midwives Association, Ms Kreagh said she was “unsettled” and “abandoned‘’ by the decision to privatise childcare.

“I’m greatly concerned about my kids, my work and my ability to perform a job I really love. The last couple of years we have worked really hard and that childcare has been the backbone, allowing us to work and attend work when Covid has made a huge impact.”

“I don’t have any family support in this area, I’m heavily reliant on daycare opening with a 6am start.

“If I’m not able to get my kids to daycare by 6:30 then I’m unable to do my shift — it would make it impossible for me to work.

“It will make my working life very difficult and I’d have to reconsider what I did in terms of employment.”

“I don’t have any family support in this area, I’m heavily reliant on daycare opening with a 6am start. If I’m not able to get my kids to daycare by 6:30 then I’m unable to do my shift. It It would make it impossible for me to work. It will make my working life very difficult and I’d have to reconsider what I did in terms of unemployment.”