Ronald McDonald house could get busier with opening of Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital

For 34-years the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) in Saskatoon has provided comfort and an affordable place to stay for families of children undergoing medical treatment for serious conditions.

Many people from across the province sometimes have to travel to Saskatoon in order for their child to get the medical care they need.

Now, with the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital (JPCH) opening to patients on Sept. 29, the number of families who will need the house will likely increase.

RMH CEO Tammy Forrester said families dealing with a sick child are already under enough stress without having to worry about where they are going to stay, and that’s where the house can help.

“We anticipate there will be more families — they’ll be serving lots of families at the JPCH and they’ve got some great amenities there that support families, but I do think the number of families that will be travelling for that care they are receiving will increase. We’re just kind of biding our time and waiting to see what that might look like,” Forrester said.

Forrester said it’s not uncommon for families to need the services of the house for months on end, depending on what their child is dealing with.

“The financial burden these families can carry if this Ronald McDonald House or places like this didn’t exist, it’s really insurmountable for families.”

Ronald McDonald House has served more than 24-thousand families since it opened.