A place to recharge during difficult hospital stays
When a child is in hospital, it is common for families to experience feelings of social isolation and disruption to family routines. Many families require respite from the hospital’s clinical setting in order to recharge and sustain the energy required to meet the needs of a sick child. We’ve long supported the provision of free accommodation near to hospitals for families whilst their children are receiving treatment. Over the years, we’ve provided £8.9m of funding towards 10 homes across the UK. In 2019, we committed to fund a Day Room at Ronald McDonald House Oxford, which is being expanded into a new 62-bedroom house, Ronald McDonald House, Oxford. The Day Room is just a few minutes away from the children’s ward, meaning that family and friends can very easily move between the two. The space will be complete with a fully-equipped kitchen, dining and play areas to allow families to maintain a degree of normality, re-establish routines and share mealtimes together. Families will be offered activities such as daily coffee mornings, parent pamper days and arts and crafts sessions for siblings, which will help to relieve stress, enhance family cohesion and promote social interaction.
