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PRESS RELEASE: 22 June 2005

New nursery officially opens at Addenbrooke's - biggest in NHS

Staff and children enjoyed the official opening of a new nursery at Addenbrooke's Hospital on Thursday 23 June 2005, making its nursery facilities the largest within the NHS.

The new nursery is managed by Kids Unlimited, one of the UK's leading childcare and pre-school education providers, who manage all three of Addenbrooke's nurseries.

Chairman Dr Mary Archer helps one of the children down the slide

The nursery joins two other nurseries on site and one at Fulbourn, bringing the total number of nursery places for the children of Addenbrooke's staff to 306.

Speaking about the new facilities Karen Houghton, Childcare Co-ordinator at Addenbrooke's, said: "At Addenbrooke's we help our staff to improve their working lives by providing good quality, on-site, affordable childcare. Because we have more and more people working for us we needed to increase our nursery provision, ensuring we could help both existing and new employees. The wonderful new nursery provides more opportunities for staff to return to work, knowing their children are being well looked after in a stimulating, colourful and spacious environment. With the introduction of the Childcare Voucher Scheme in January 2005, which is also managed by Kids Unlimited, we can also help our employees to save on the cost of any registered childcare they may use."

Having fun at the new nursery

The nursery, which opened its doors for the first time at the beginning of June, has 80 places for children of Addenbrooke's employees, 40 places for MRC (Medical Research Council) employees and 30 places for other parents from the Cambridge area. The nursery looks after children aged between three months and five years, and is well-equipped with a play area and garden, and provides stimulating activities such as baby yoga, physical activity, French language learning and gardening and cookery clubs.

Chris Winstanley, Managing Director for Kids Unlimited, said: "We are really pleased to be opening our latest state-of-the-art nursery in Cambridge and allowing even more children to experience our innovative approach to childcare. It is great to grow our long relationship with Addenbrooke's whilst offering others who live and work in the area with childcare the opportunity to experience the Kids Unlimited approach."

Notes to editors

• The new nursery is one of many initiatives to make life easier for Addenbrooke's employees. Other schemes include flexible working, family-friendly leave schemes and help with accommodation and finances.
• For further information on Kids Unlimited nurseries, please contact Rachel Johnson, Marketing Co-ordinator, on 07909 962956, or see their website at www.kidsunlimited.co.uk
• For further information on Addenbrooke's Hospital, please contact Emma Oram, Press Officer, PR & Communications, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ Tel: 01223 274433 Fax: 01223 257143 Email: emma.oram@addenbrookes.nhs.uk

PRESS
You are invited to attend the official opening of the new nursery by Dr Mary Archer, Addenbrooke's Chairman, on Thursday 23 June 2005 at 1030 (you will need to report to the PR & Communications Office at 1015). There will be photo opportunities with children using the nursery. Please call Emma Oram on 01223 274433 before 23 June if you would like to attend.

For further press/media information contact: PR & Communications Department, Box 53, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ; Tel: 01223 274 433; Fax: 01223 257 143; Minicom: 01223 274 604.