Families forced to travel from the New England and beyond for their child’s specialist hospital treatment will have a new place to stay close to care, with a Ronald McDonald House accommodation facility now open at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
Located on Level 9 of the hospital’s new 14-storey Paediatric Services Building, the accommodation sits close to the cardiac and critical care inpatient units, allowing families to stay together during serious illness. It offers overnight accommodation for up to ten families, kitchen and laundry facilities, communal living and dining spaces, an outdoor terrace, and wrap-around support including counselling and mental health services.
The facility was delivered in partnership with the NSW Government, with Ronald McDonald House Greater Western Sydney receiving $750,000 in funding, including $250,000 from NSW Health, matched by the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, and a further $250,000 through the NSW Community Infrastructure Grants program.
Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said the accommodation was designed with families like those in the New England in mind.
“For families travelling from regional, rural and remote communities, we know that having a safe and comfortable place to stay can make an enormous difference while they’re accessing treatment,” Minister Park said.
“This new accommodation not only reduces the burden of travel and accommodation costs, but is a home away from home for families experiencing an already challenging time.”
Ronald McDonald House Greater Western Sydney CEO Claire Barber said keeping families close to their child during hospital care was about more than convenience.
“Keeping families close to their child while they receive hospital care is not a nice-to-have, it is a critical part of healthcare that contributes to better outcomes for children and their families,” Ms Barber said.
“The new Ronald McDonald House Family Accommodation will provide vital support, comfort and stability for more families with seriously ill children.”
Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Chief Executive Cathryn Cox said the facility would help keep families together through some of their hardest moments.
“The Ronald McDonald House Family Accommodation does far more than bring families closer to clinical care. It helps keep families together when they need each other most,” Ms Cox said.
The accommodation forms part of the NSW Government’s $659.1 million Stage 2 Redevelopment of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, and comes alongside broader investment in Western Sydney hospitals, including Rouse Hill, Bankstown, Blacktown and Mt Druitt.
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