RMHC accomodation

A ‘home away from home’ for families with children receiving treatment at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital had its official opening on 13th September by the Mayor, Councillor Carol Ann Theobald at its new site at Glen Court, Abbey Road, Brighton, just opposite the new children’s hospital.The new Ronald McDonald House at Glen Court, provided by Ronald McDonald House Charities, opened its doors to families on Monday 26th March. It has eight en suite bedrooms, lounge, dining area, kitchen, laundry and a small patio garden.

The House provides a place for families to get some much-needed rest but still be close to their child. For eight years RMHC has had a long association with Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, providing an eight-bedroom House at the old children’s hospital site. When the hospital revealed plans to relocate to a new site in Brighton, RMHC moved too and invested £600,000 to refurbish an existing NHS Trust-owned property to continue provide this much-needed facility. A further £300,000 was also invested by the charity to provide an additional ten en-suite bedrooms located on the top floor of the new children’s hospital increasing the provision of rooms from eight to eighteen.

Jon Haward Director of RMHC said: “I am delighted that we are able to continue to provide much-needed accommodation for families with children being cared for by the Trust. Many families have to travel some distance to be with their children who are often suffering from serious conditions or injuries that require long-term treatment. The House will provide families with a place to get some crucial rest, gain some sense of normality and support from families in similar situations.”