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Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) New Zealand is an essential service. This means our core purpose, to enable family-centred care by keeping families together when their child is in a New Zealand hospital away from home, will be fulfilled throughout all national alert levels.
Many of the families staying at Ronald McDonald House have children with compromised immunity due to their medical conditions and treatment. These children are at high risk from COVID-19.
To ensure the safety of patients, families, staff and essential volunteers remains paramount. RMHC® New Zealand has re-introduced a series of actions that will ensure we can safely continue to provide accommodation and care for families with a child undergoing medical treatment.
Many of the families staying at Ronald McDonald House have children with compromised immunity due to their medical conditions and treatment. These children are at high risk from COVID-19.
To ensure the safety of patients, families, staff and essential volunteers remains paramount. RMHC® New Zealand has re-introduced a series of actions that will ensure we can safely continue to provide accommodation and care for families with a child undergoing medical treatment.
These following actions, effective as of 24 January 2022 have been guided by the Ministry of Health and in collaboration with partnering District Health Boards and include:
Auckland Programmes
- At the Red setting of the COVID-19 Protection Framework, Ronald McDonald House at Auckland Domain and Grafton Mews remain open and will operate with a 50% occupancy rate.
- The Ronald McDonald Family Room® programme day lounge at the National Children’s Hospital in Auckland remains closed to all ward families and visitors.
- With the implementation of our vaccination policy, all family members aged 12+ must be fully vaccinated and show a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to arrival to stay at Ronald McDonald House.
- Families who cannot show proof of vaccination will be accommodated at off-site, self-contained accommodation in close proximity to hospitals. The cost of this accommodation will be covered by RMHC New Zealand.
- To ensure the safety for both families and volunteers, Ronald McDonald House facilities throughout New Zealand will operate with a significantly reduced volunteer pool to provide essential services.
Wellington Programmes:
- At the Red setting of the COVID-19 Protection Framework, Ronald McDonald House at Wellington remains open and will operate with a 50% occupancy rate.
- The Ronald McDonald Family Room® programme day lounge in Wellington Hospital remains closed to all ward families and visitors.
- With the implementation of our vaccination policy, all family members aged 12+ must be fully vaccinated and show a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to arrival to stay at Ronald McDonald House.
- Families who cannot show proof of vaccination will be accommodated at off-site, self-contained accommodation in close proximity to hospitals. The cost of this accommodation will be covered by RMHC New Zealand.
- To ensure the safety for both families and volunteers, Ronald McDonald House facilities throughout New Zealand will operate with a significantly reduced volunteer pool to provide essential services.
Rotorua Retreat:
- With the implementation of our vaccination policy, all family members aged 12+ must be fully vaccinated to stay at the Rotorua Retreat.
Screening of all families, staff, and volunteers prior to entering our Houses
All families, volunteers, and staff will be screened prior to entering a facility to minimise the chance of inadvertently spreading the virus. Other than those requiring isolation, families that have a heightened risk will be found alternative accommodation close to the hospital, for their safety and the wider RMHC New Zealand whānau.
Supporting the families
At an already stressful time for families, the risk from COVID-19 adds a new anxiety. They need our support more than ever. If you are able to help support families you can:
Donate here
Our team would be grateful for donations of non-perishable food items (although, please leave these outside the front door) but we are unable to receive second-hand clothes or toys right now.
We will keep posting updates here as the situation changes.