Hummingbird House opens its doors to children across Queensland

QUEENSLAND’S only children’s palliative care hospice will today open its doors to kids across the state.

Paul and Gabrielle Quilliam, Hummingbird House founders. Photo: Claudia Baxter

QUEENSLAND’S only children’s palliative care hospice will today open its doors to kids across the state.

Almost 4000 Queensland children are living with health conditions that could kill them before adulthood.

The Chermside-based Hummingbird House offers short-stay breaks, symptom management, bereavement support and end-of-life care for children.

Founders Paul and Gabrielle Quilliam developed the idea six years ago after caring for their foster daughter, who suffered from a life-limiting illness.

“We quickly recognised there was that gap in support services for families who were providing continuous care for children with complex medical needs,” Mrs Quilliam said.

A look inside the new Hummingbird House at Chermside. Photo: Claudia Baxter

Combining Mrs Quilliam’s skills as a nurse and midwife and her husband’s business management portfolio, the pair began planning a new service to cater to Queensland families in need.

The purpose-built, nature-inspired hospice in Chermside features eight medical support beds with “all the support of a fully functioning private health facility” and five family ­accommodation units for entire families to stay close by.

Staffed by a lead clinician and a rotating roster of GPs, registered nurses and allied health workers, the house ­allows families to grieve ­together while their children are cared for around the clock.

Hummingbird House also has a custom-built suite for children after their death to “allow families appropriate time to be with their child”.

A suiteat the new Hummingbird House at Chermside. Photo: Claudia Baxter

“This also allows for interstate family members to say goodbye so the child isn’t removed from the family but can be cared for after their death,” she said.

General manager Dr Fiona Hawthorne said Hummingbird House offered families a “home away from home”.

“This facility offers best practice paediatric palliative care and family support and is a third option to hospital, and home,” she said.