Unprecedented demand for Ronald McDonald House in Adelaide is seeing regional South Australians missing out

Demand for a room at Ronald McDonald House has hit a record high – with hundreds of families turned away this year.

Port Augusta’s Mary and Ben Maule say they are incredibly grateful to be able to stay at Ronald McDonald House, close to their newborn who was born three months premature. Picture: Brenton Edwards

A city-based charity that has been providing nearby hospital accommodation for the families of seriously ill and injured country kids for decades has revealed the heartache of now having to turn hundreds away.

McDonald House Charities South Australia (RMHC SA) executive officer Melissa Monkhouse said a record high of 420 families from rural and remote South Australia as well as the Northern Territory had sought accommodation in the past financial year.

She said while 260 nights of “urgent” accommodation was found at city hotels for dozens of families who couldn’t be accommodated at the North Adelaide site, more than 200 families were turned away amid the unprecedented demand.

“We exist to keep families together, so knowing that we’re not doing that is really heartbreaking,” she said.

“We’re not just an accommodation facility … this is a place where families can come together and be supported (for) what is sometimes the most difficult challenge they’ll ever face.”

While the average stay is 20 days, there are currently five families who’ve needed to be in Adelaide for the past 100 days, due to their children’s illnesses.

Ms Monkhouse said the spike in demand was being driven in part by a drop-off in health services across regional SA.

“We are seeing more and more families coming into Adelaide to receive healthcare … it’s the same with regional obstetrics; more women are having to come into the city to deliver their babies, if they are at risk or if they go into early labour,” she said.

The financial crisis is also contributing, making “staying in hotels completely unachievable”.

The charity which exists almost entirely on fundraising efforts estimates it has helped about 7000 families over the past 24 years.

Mary and Ben with baby Ophelia Maule who has spent the past couple of months in the neonatal intensive care unit. Picture: Supplied

New Port Augusta parents Mary and Ben Maule are beyond grateful to have accessed the accommodation for the past 60 nights.

Their little girl, Ophelia, was born 12 weeks early and has spent the past two months in the neonatal intensive care unit.

“I was flown to Adelaide from Port Augusta Hospital to have Ophelia at 28 weeks pregnant and it all happened very fast … if we couldn’t stay (here), neither of us would have been able to be here with our baby girl,” Mrs Maule said.

Being able to stay at Ronald McDonald House has allowed Mary and Ben Maule to maintain some normality as their precious new baby Ophelia remains in hospital. Picture: Brenton Edwards