I THINK I am safe to say that everybody greatly appreciates the fantastic work and effort of those who work in our NHS, writes DAVID RENARD.

The care they provide is second to none. But like with many sectors, it can be difficult to recruit and retain staff, for a variety of reasons.

Everybody is well aware of the competing demands that childcare and work can bring to a family – finding the right balance can be problematic for many, particularly for people whose work is not the usual nine to five.

Many doctors, nurses and other NHS staff are in this category, as are those considering a career in this area.

The NHS nationally faces challenges to recruit and retain staff and the picture is no different at Swindon’s Great Western Hospital (GWH).

Last summer, the council bid to national government to be an Early Implementer from September this year of a national policy to offer eligible families up to 30 hours of free childcare a week.

We came up with an innovative proposal to offer flexible childcare and the Department for Education selected us along with seven other areas to pilot the scheme.

We approached the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs our local hospital, to offer eligible parents of three and four year olds who work at the hospital and live in the borough, up to 30 hours of free childcare per week.

The pilot would be for up to 415 local children, with the high-quality childcare being delivered at participating pre-schools and nurseries locally and by child-minders.

We have worked closely with providers and some will be able to offer weekend childcare, giving parents employed at the GWH even more flexibility.

The pilot will also act as an incentive for parents looking at applying for a job at the GWH, so it will benefit their efforts to recruit and retain staff.

As places are limited, to be eligible for the scheme, all parents in a household must live in the Borough of Swindon and earn the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Living Wage, with at least one parent working at the GWH.

They must not earn more than £100,000 a year each and must agree to childcare being provided in the Borough of Swindon.

I am confident that this pilot scheme will benefit Swindon as a whole, as it is designed to allow our local hospital staff greater flexibility, helping them to continue to deliver excellent care for us all at GWH.

Eligible parents who want more information about the pilot places can send an email to 30hours@swindon.gov.uk or text the word ‘funding’ to 82055.