A children’s nursery based at Grantham Hospital looks set to close at the end of August.
Acorn Nursery owner Marie Sparks says she is angry at the way the closure has been handled by the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust.
The business was put out to tender this year and a bid by Mrs Sparks was unsuccessful. She was due to leave in May, but decided to stay on when a childcare company which won the tender pulled out. The Trust has tried to persuade the company to change its mind again, but to no avail.
Mrs Sparks said: “I am very upset and very angry at the way the situation has been handled. I am very upset for the families, staff and parents. They are all appalled at how it has been done. I cannot believe the Trust wants to leave the building standing empty and not making any money.”
The company which pulled out of the tendering process said it would not be financially viable to take on the business because the building needs refurbishing at a reported cost of £60,000.
In statement the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “Acorn Nursery, which is based on the site at Grantham Hospital, is due to stop providing services on August 31, 2013. During a tendering process to find an alternative provider, another nursery was successful but withdrew their bid. The Trust has re-approached that company to ask them to reconsider but, unfortunately, the amended bid was unsuccessful.
“As a result, the Trust has been working hard with Lincolnshire NHS Childcare and Carer Service to provide information to staff on childcare that is available near to Grantham Hospital. The Childcare and Carer Service is working with individuals to tailor support that meets their needs.”