Parents battle fee increase at Tic Toc Nursery

Jan 21 2010 West Lothian Courier

Mum, fights against fees at Tic Toc Nursery at St John’s Hospital

PARENTS have launched a fight against an “unfair” hike in their nursery fees.

NHS workers who use the Tic Toc Nursery at St John’s Hospital say a 33 per cent hike in charges is unaffordable for many parents.

Members of the West Lothian Community Health and Care Partnership agreed recently to increase the fees by 10 per cent next month, 10 per cent in April and then a further 10 per cent in September.

Because of the way the increase has been staggered, it adds up to 33 per cent in total – bringing the cost for a child aged under two from £3 per hour to £3.99.

Fiona Paterson, from Livingston, says this increase will force many cash-strapped parents to take their youngsters out of the nursery, especially as many have more than one child attending.

She has launched an online petition against the increases, saying she fears for the long-term future of the nursery and worries health bosses may be looking at privatising or closing it altogether.

Fiona, whose two-year-old attends the nursery, said: “A 33 per cent increase is scandalous and we would like to know which indices have been used to reach these figures during a recession where NHS workers’ pay is to be frozen.

“A lot of people who use the nursery are only Grade Two, they’re not on a lot of money, not everybody is a consultant or doctor.

“This increase also raises concern there may be a hidden agenda, such as privatisation or indeed in the long term, closure of the nursery.”

Fiona also said that cost aside, parents feel the nursery provides an excellent standard of education for their children and it would be a shame to lose that.

She continued: “I could send my children to a council-run nursery and then have wrap-around care, which would be a lot cheaper.

“But we as parents value the care and attention our children receive at the nursery, the management and staff within the nursery are second to none.”

Jim Forrest, director of West Lothian Community Health and Care Partnership, NHS Lothian, said there had been no increase in fees in 18 months.

He said “We are committed to providing a range of employee benefits, one of which includes high quality child care for employees at St John’s Hospital.

“We give a substantial subsidy to the Tic Toc day nursery so that they can offer competitive rates with other nursery providers.

“Fees at the nursery have remained static for the last 18 months however, if anyone was facing financial hardship we would look at cases on an individual basis.

“We would also like to reassure clients that there are no plans to close the nursery.”

To sign Fiona’s petition, visit www.ipetitions.com/petition/fightthefeesCHCP