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How it can help me

Our Charity believes that when a child is sick, the entire family needs comfort and support.

 

We work closely with our NHS hospital partners to support family-centred care by giving families a place to stay, moments away from their child’s ward.

Walk times from House to Hospital

  • Within Hospital Arrowe Park, Edinburgh, Moorfields
  • 1 – 5 minutes      Alder Hey, Tooting, Southampton, Manchester, Cardiff, Camberwell, Birmingham
  • 5 – 8 minutes      Camberwell, Bristol
  • 10 -12 minutes   Evelina London, Oxford

In 2021, we saved families an average of £1,240 in out-of-pocket accommodation costs.

Family-centred care

In family-centred care, all aspects of care are oriented towards supporting and involving the family with the goal of improving quality, psychological well-being, clinical outcomes and the overall patient and family experience. Learn about how our organisation helps to facilitate family-centred care.

Learn more

Family life

Kitchens and communal areas mean families are able to preserve a sense of normality and routine for the rest of the family by spending time with and cooking for their other children. Not only does this benefit their health by preparing homecooked food, it also helps financially.

Family stories

Peer support

As well as providing a place for families to cook and relax, communal areas in our Houses provide an important meeting space for parents to talk to each other. Peer to peer support is so important and parents in our Houses can feel supported by other families sharing the same experiences. Watch Katie and Emma as they talk about developing their friendship beyond the Ronald McDonald House.

Meet Katie and Emma

Reducing financial strain

Our accommodation is provided free of charge and for as long as families need it.

 

According to a report by BLISS, on average, parents were forced to spend an extra £405 a week when their baby was in hospital. This includes unexpected expenses such as travel, parking, food and drink, childcare for siblings, and loss of earnings.

Learn more

Find a Ronald McDonald House

What is family-centred care?

A hundred years ago, children’s wards didn’t allow any visitors at all. Young patients would face the trauma of being separated from their parents for long periods of time. Then, psychologists began to connect hospitalisation as a child to issues in adulthood.

 

Discover our comic tracing the history of family-centred care.

Read the comic

“I cried tears of relief and joy when I first saw the House. I had been so anxious about what was going to happen and how we were going to cope. We live 45 minutes away from the hospital and the thought of being far from Rosie or needing to be in two places at the same time was upsetting. Being able to stay at the House was a huge relief and it was breath-taking to realise the level of generosity given to help families like ours.” – mum, Helen.