CNWL has signed up to The Smallest Things ‘Employer with Heart’ Charter

CNWL has now signed up to The Smallest Things ‘Employer with Heart’ Charter, pledging its commitment to support the needs of premature babies and their families. 

Current NHS terms and conditions allow new parents whose baby has been born prematurely to split their maternity leave, allowing them to take two weeks leave immediately after childbirth, and the rest following their baby’s discharge from hospital. 

One in eight babies are born prematurely meaning parents time to bond with their baby is reduced with the period from birth, to discharge for babies born prematurely typically being several weeks, or even months.  

The Trust wants to support new parents by ensuring they receive their normal pay up until the point that their maternity pay commences and an additional two weeks maternity support leave (Paternity) for partners. We have also applied the same extended leave to parents whose babies need to spend time in hospital longer than a week after birth, regardless of when they are born.  

The Trust is backing the charity The Smallest Things which campaigns for extended maternity and paternity leave for parents of premature babies.

Catriona Ogilvy, founder of The Smallest Things, says

"We are delighted that Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust has signed up to our Employer with Heart charter and will give parents of babies born prematurely the extra time they need. Visiting a fragile baby on a neonatal unit for weeks, sometimes months, is terrifying and shouldn’t be counted as maternity or paternity leave. We're pleased to see the Trust supporting its staff during these difficult times."