Star shares personal story of having a sick child in hospital at opening of new RMH
Loose Women and Waterloo Road star, Denise Welch visited the new Ronald McDonald House as it opened its doors to families with sick children at Arrowe Park Hospital on 17th October.
Loose Women and Waterloo Road star, Denise Welch will be visiting the new Ronald McDonald House as it opens its doors to families with sick children at Arrowe Park Hospital on 17th October. The House is run by RMHC – Ronald McDonald House Charities and provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation for parents with sick children, staying at the hospital on the Wirral, run by Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
In 2002 Denise had direct experience of needing to be near her sick child, when her son was diagnosed with Hirschprungs Disease – a serious problem of the bowel where part of the baby’s intestine does not function properly. Denise and her family were able to stay in a Ronald McDonald House to be close to her son during a series of life-threatening operations. Denise will be welcoming families to the House as it opens its door to the public for the first time. Ronald McDonald House Manager Catherine Churchill, will be on hand to give guided tours around the seven-bedroom House.
The facility, which is the 3rd ‘wish’ of the Trust’s Jellybean Kids Appeal, will provide accommodation for up to 28 people, 365 days of the year. RMHC believes that every parent should be able to stay close to their child when they are admitted to hospital, as research suggests that children do better when their parents are nearby.
For the past eight months RMHC has been appealing to the local community and businesses to help reach the fundraising target of £250,000. The money from the public has helped to build this ‘home away from home’ to help many families, for years to come.
Catherine Churchill, RMH Arrowe Park House Manager, says: “Having a child admitted into hospital is every parent’s worst nightmare. Ronald McDonald Houses provide support for families at this difficult time, enabling them not only to stay together, but also to share their experiences with other families going through the same thing. On behalf of RMHC I would like to personally thank the public for helping to make this happen.”
Len Richards, Chief Executive of Arrowe Park Hospital says: “We provide Level 3 neonatal intensive care for sick babies across Cheshire and Merseyside, the North West and throughout the UK. Plus we have our own children’s A&E and in-patient facility that provides care for children across the Wirral area and beyond. We are extremely grateful that Ronald McDonald House Charities have come to this Hospital and will be helping local families in the area and beyond.
Denise Welch says: “I will always be eternally grateful for all the help received when I stayed in the Ronald McDonald House. It meant that I could be close to my son at such a crucial time making the whole situation less stressful. The staff were absolutely fantastic and it was great that my parents could also stay in the accommodation with me and spend time with their grandson.”
For more information about RMHC, visit www.rmhc.org.uk.
Videoclip courtesy of Wirral Globe