It can be a challenging time for families who have a loved one in need of specialised treatment at Canberra Hospital and find themselves suddenly far from home.
Accommodation that is located close to the hospital helps significantly to relieve distress for family members and their loved ones caused by this unexpected or emergency health crisis, offering some relief during this traumatic and uncertain time.
Having family and carers close by is most beneficial to health outcomes for the patient who may have been transported to Canberra Hospital via the retrieval service for trauma, intensive care, cardiac or obstetric emergency care.
Up to 30% of patients being treated at Canberra Hospital are from regional NSW. Patients and carers who come from the region surrounding Canberra often need accommodation support; Canberra Health Services (CHS) offers this support through shared accommodation on the grounds of Canberra Hospital for patients and their carers travelling from interstate for treatment.
“I stayed in the ‘out of town’ accommodation and would like to say how comfortable the facility is for visitors/ family of patients. It is well appointed and has all the comforts of home. It is wonderful to have the laundry as well. I felt safe and secure with good locks on all doors. Thank you!”
Thanks to generous donations and community support we were able to help create a ‘home away from home’ by supporting the refurbishment of the onsite accommodation. The purchase of items helped to provide a comfortable and fit for purpose accommodation facility across the 12 apartments at Canberra Hospital.
Each apartment is fitted with a shared laundry, bathroom, open plan kitchen, dining, and lounge room and two individual bedrooms, each with twin beds. This communal style living has previously been successful and offers an opportunity for guests to enjoy the support and company of persons who may be new to Canberra and experiencing similar circumstances.
People who stay onsite at Canberra Hospital may often be distressed and their length of stay can vary from a couple of days to several weeks, depending on their circumstances. The shared accommodation offered by CHS recognises the financial burden of interstate travel and therefore consumers may be eligible for financial support for the cost of accommodation and travel (find out more information here).
One unit in the new Residences is held as an ‘emergency’ room available for overnight stays to cater for consumers and loved ones who need urgent accommodation due to unexpected circumstances.
Thanks to the support of our generous community, an enhanced welcoming space for patients and their carers who need to travel to Canberra for outpatient appointments or when visiting seriously ill family members is available.
With your ongoing support we can continue to assist with refurbishments like this, helping to make a huge difference for patient and family experiences. Please donate and help provide a ‘home away from home’ for those in need.
“I have had a lot of people say how lovely and comfortable their stay was, so new and modern. They are so happy to have some accommodation on campus grounds. One lovely lady said it is like a home away from home.” Anne Folger- Pleuger, Client Services Canberra Health Services
