The guest houses of the Ronald McDonald Children’s Fund in Groningen and Rotterdam are probably too small if only the children’s heart centers in those two cities remain open. If more parents want to sleep close to their sick child, the houses have to expand. That is what deputy director Miranda Noorlander says to NU.nl.
There is that possibility in Groningen. In Rotterdam, the foundation is looking at whether expansion can be done at another location in the city, says Noorlander.
The cabinet wants only the pediatric heart surgery departments in Rotterdam and Groningen to remain open. The centers in Leiden and Amsterdam will then have to close. This means that the two remaining locations in Rotterdam and Groningen will receive more patients.
That will certainly have consequences for the homes of the Ronald McDonald Children’s Fund in those places, says Noorlander. For example, because parents then have to travel longer distances.
It is still difficult to say how big those consequences are, she says. “For example, do the children only come for an operation? Do they come back? We are in close contact with the hospitals about this.”
There is currently room for slightly more families, she says. “But with a large increase, we have to expand.” The Ronald McDonald House in Groningen currently has 28 guest rooms. The Ronald McDonald House Sophia Rotterdam has 34.
Guest houses within walking distance of the hospitals
In Rotterdam, according to Noorlander, the occupancy has been high for years, because more specialist care has been added. In addition to eleven houses, the Ronald McDonald Children’s Fund also has twelve living rooms and three holiday homes throughout the Netherlands.
The guest houses are within walking distance of hospitals. They offer parents, brothers and sisters a quiet place to rest and sleep, close to the sick child.
According to Minister Ernst Kuipers (Public Health), two instead of four pediatric heart centers is better for the quality of care. A parliamentary majority is in favor of the plan.
The hospitals in Leiden and Amsterdam are disappointed. The center for congenital heart defects (CAHAL) of the LUMC and the Amsterdam UMC says it will go to court if Kuipers sticks to his plan.
