AFTER nine years and almost 16,000 guests through the doors at Reed House, the charity accommodation centre at Nambour has been officially handed over to Wishlist today.

The centre has been run by dedicated Red Cross volunteers on behalf of Wishlist since opening in April 2009.

Wishlist CEO Lisa Rowe said today was about thanking the Red Cross team, volunteers and supporters of the 20-bed facility while celebrating the continuation of Reed House for patients and their families well into the future.



“In 2009, Nambour Hospital was our major hospital and there were no affordable accommodation options close by,” Ms Rowe said.

“Most people have gone through the stress of a medical emergency or needing to be close to a loved one during treatment, so having this accessibility is so valuable.

“From elderly cancer patients to parents of babies in the special care nursery, or patients who live a long way from town but need access to medical services – Reed House has welcomed them all.

[caption id="attachment_1214" align="alignleft" width="1024"] Lisa Rowe with Harry and Margaret Reed.[/caption]

 

“The exceptional team at Red Cross have managed this facility for almost nine years, and we’re excited that Wishlist will commence the management of Reed House from this month.

“Reed House continues to be the emergency accommodation facility for patients and carers at Nambour Hospital and now Sunshine Coast University Hospital, so there’s no doubt we have an exciting future ahead of us for this building.”

Reed House took two years of planning, construction and countless volunteered hours by more than 90 generous Sunshine Coast businesses.

Former charity Reed Charity Foundation handed the premises over to Wishlist in 2009 and was the first facility of its kind on the Sunshine Coast providing a temporary home for patients and their families requiring ongoing medical treatment.

Founder Harry Reed said the project received overwhelming community support and generosity despite economic difficulties at the time.



“The project was really a dream come true,” Mr Reed said.

“Since the first guests were welcomed in on April 6 in 2009 until 2016, 15,676 people have walked through those doors and had a place to rest.”

Recently, a pregnant patient from Toowoomba was flown to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital to give birth to her twins after a life-threatening complication.

Her partner and two other children drove to the Coast from Toowoomba and stayed at Reed House while the babies Oliver and Noah were being treated in the Neonatal Unit.



Reed House offers affordable accommodation for patients receiving ongoing or emergency treatment at SCUH, Nambour Hospital, Selengor or Genesis CancerCare.

Patients who live outside a 50km radius of Nambour Hospital or SCUH may also eligible for a subsidy to assist with the costs of travel and accommodation.

For more information about Reed House visit reedhouse.com.au or phone (07) 5441 1049.