Ronald McDonald Family Room
When families walk into a Ronald McDonald Family Room, we want them to forget they're in a hospital.
Often steps away from a high dependency or paediatric intensive care unit, Ronald McDonald Family Rooms offer a place to rest and regroup right at the hospital, just moments away from their sick child.
Help Children Heal Faster and Cope Better
Research shows that a family presence in the hospital helps children heal faster and cope better. Staying close by allows parents to better communicate with their child’s medical team and improves adherence to complicated treatment plans.
Services for Families
Services may vary from one Ronald McDonald Family Room to the next, but families will often find:
- A kitchen area that includes a stove or microwave
- Shower facilities
- Sleeping rooms
- Laundry facilities
- Internet access
- A seating area
- A quiet room
Where are they?
There is a Family Room in Wellington Hospital managed by the RMH Wellington Trust and one in Starship Children's Hospital run by the RMH Auckland Trust which has 13 bedrooms available for caregivers or parents with a child in high dependency or intensive care units. There is also a Family Room proposed for Christchurch Hospital which will have 3 bedrooms and will be managed by the RMH South Island Trust. Discussions are currently underway with Southland District Health Board proposing Family Rooms for Dunedin and Invercargill Hospitals.
