Cairns Hospital maternity ward opens new pregnancy loss private room

A campaign which raised $200,000 in one month has put the funds to use to open a new “homely” private space at Cairns Hospital for grieving families.

The Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation has raised $200,000 to develop a private room in the Cairns Hospital maternity ward for women and families that experience pregnancy and childbirth loss, along with a large mural painted at the entrance to the unit, thanks to the generosity of a large number of donors. Picture: Brendan Radke

Families experiencing the utmost grief following pregnancy loss are set to benefit from the generosity of the Far North community following the establishment of a $200,000 “homely” private space at the Cairns Hospital.

The Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation formally unveiled a new mural and private room at the Cairns Hospital maternity ward on Thursday, following a short campaign to “brighten” the space to accommodate families on their darkest days.

Foundation chief executive Gina Hogan said pregnancy losses happened “more often than we like to think about” and the colourful new spaces would help emotionally support families through a “healing journey.”

The Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation has raised $200,000 to develop a private room in the Cairns Hospital maternity ward for women and families that experience pregnancy and childbirth loss, along with a large mural painted at the entrance to the unit, thanks to the generosity of a large number of donors. Picture: Brendan Radke

“They’re in the maternity ward, but they’re actually in their own space,” Ms Hogan said.

“The room has a beautiful butterfly theme, calming colours, it feels a bit more like a home than a clinical space and that enables those people to go through that experience of loss and mourning, but still be within that space.”

Ms Hogan said the foundation raised $200,000 between November and December 2023 with the help of its donors, which included the Alive Pharmacy Ride for Isabel, Christmas Wrap at the major shopping centres, KenFrost Homes and major contributor Nu Nu Restaurant through its annual Melbourne Cup lunch fundraiser.

The Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation has raised $200,000 to develop a private room in the Cairns Hospital maternity ward for women and families that experience pregnancy and childbirth loss, along with a large mural painted at the entrance to the unit. Cairns Hospital pregnancy loss coordinator Lyn Graham, midwifery nursing director Mary McGuinness, Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation chief executive Gina Hogan and assistant midwife unit manager Jo Taylor experience the new room designed to comfort women and families experiencing pregnancy and childbirth loss. Picture: Brendan Radke

Nu Nu Restaurant co-owner Mo Rowbottom said her business had been involved with the foundation for 20 years, following what began as a chance donation.

“So the first year we did it, it was just our friends and we raised $1000 and just gave it to the hospital. We didn’t even know there was a foundation, then it’s just grown from that,” Ms Rowbottom said, whose business donated $100,000 last year.

Ms Hogan said the private room and mural were now welcoming families, with the foundation’s focus turning to its Donate for DaNi campaign – a DaVinci surgical robot to help improve patient outcomes – with a goal of raising $4.3m.

Originally published as Cairns Hospital maternity ward opens new pregnancy loss private room