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A ‘home-away-from-home’ for families who travel to Christchurch for life-saving medical treatment.

Staying at Rānui House

Rānui House offers accommodation and support to patients and their whānau from across New Zealand and the Chatham Islands. They travel hundreds of kilometres to Christchurch for various lifesaving medical treatments such as chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants, heart surgery, high-risk pregnancies, neonatal care, kidney transplants, dialysis, general surgery, and a host of other serious illnesses and accidents. Eligible patients of all ages and from all hospital departments are warmly welcomed to Rānui House.

If patients are well enough, they can spend time with their families at Rānui House returning to hospital for treatment when required. Patients who are having outpatient treatment i.e. radiotherapy, home dialysis, pregnancy and some bone marrow transplants can stay in Rānui House while the treatment is carried out with daily visits to the hospital.

Rānui House means ‘big warm house’ and that is exactly what we provide. Warmth and care for babies, children, young people and adults while they undergo medical treatment in Christchurch. 

We are a charitable trust founded over 30 years ago and funded by the people of New Zealand. 

Rānui House offers 26 purpose built apartments, is located opposite Christchurch Hospital (just a short 2 minute walk) and beautiful Hagley Park. We provide families an apartment with comfy beds, ample living spaces including a kitchen or kitchenette and laundry just like you would have at home, along with an onsite carpark and generous communal spaces.

Our team are on hand to take care of the practical things giving families the time and space to focus on their treatment – this is a true home-away-from-home.

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FAQs at Rānui House Christchurch

COVID-19 Restrictions

To ensure the continued safety of all families staying at a Rānui House patients, their family members and any visitors must meet our health screening conditions, our team at reception will liaise with you on this.

The health screening criteria is:- if you, someone in your family or someone you have been in contact with has tested positive for Covid-19 in the past 7 days or have been told by a healthcare provider or public health official that you should self-isolate due to potential Covid-19 exposure, or that you are suspected of having Covid-19, you will not be able to stay at Rānui House.  We welcome all patients and family members irrespective of their COVID-19 vaccination status.

We ask that all residents, their families and visitors wear a mask when in communal areas – masks are available all around Rānui House for use and we have PPE available if it is required.

We ask that everyone sanitises their hands regularly, there are sanitising stations available throughout Rānui House.  In addition Rānui House is sanitised by our team twice daily.

If you are staying with us and you or your caregiver test positive for COVID-19 we will ask you to leave the House – our facilities are not equipped to support full isolation that these situations required.  We will work with the Infection Control team at Christchurch Hospital, you and your support team to determine how your family will be supported and transported home or to a suitable isolation facility.  Our team understand this can be a challenging time for the families we serve and will manage this situation with empathy and care.

 

Who can stay?

Families come to Rānui House from across New Zealand. They travel hundreds of kilometres to Christchurch for various lifesaving medical treatments such as chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants, heart surgery, difficult pregnancies, neonatal care, kidney transplants, dialysis, general surgery and a host of serious illnesses and accidents.

Patients of all ages, from all hospital departments are welcome to stay at Rānui House.  If patients are well enough, they can spend time with their families at Rānui House, returning to hospital for treatment when required.  Patients who are having outpatient treatment i.e. radiotherapy, home dialysis, pregnancy and some bone marrow transplants can stay in Rānui House while the treatment is carried out with daily visits to the hospital.

Rānui means ‘big warm house’ and that is exactly what we provide.  Warmth and care for babies, children, young people, and adults whilst they undergo medical treatment in Christchurch.

If the accommodation is not funded by the Ministry of Health’s National Travel Assistance, there will be a charge per night per apartment. Should residents wish to have a guest stay overnight there will be a cost per additional person per night.

Sorry, no pets allowed on premises although service animals are welcome – please advise our team prior to arrival and provide confirmation of service animal status.

How do we know if we are eligible to stay?

Families are referred to us through their doctor, district health board or social worker.

In order to stay at Rānui House while you or your loved one has treatment in Christchurch, we would need to receive a referral (booking) for you from Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand’s National Travel Assistance office.

National Travel Assistance covers the cost of your travel to Christchurch and home again, as well as a subsidy for accommodation with us. The balance of the accommodation costs is generously donated by supporters of the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust, which is the charity that owns and operates Rānui House.

Here’s a link to see the Ministry of Health eligibility criteria for National Travel Assistance: https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/services-and-support/health-care-services/hospitals-and-specialist-services/travel-assistance/whos-eligible-travel-assistance

After checking this link, a next step would be to contact the Patient Travel Administrator at your regional hospital, as they will be able to confirm your eligibility and explain the options to you.

If you are not eligible for funding you can still book in and pay privately. Please enquire directly to Rānui House phone 03 377 2515 or email info@bmct.org.nz

How do we book in?

Your Patient Travel Coordinator or Social Worker will generally arrange your first visit, but subsequent visits may be booked directly through the office at Rānui House. Please note, completion of this form does not guarantee your booking. All requests for accommodation will be confirmed in writing and are subject to availability until then.

Keys, Safety & Security

Rānui House is a gated facility. Residents are given a key to their apartment plus a security key tag for entrance to the building and carpark. There is an intercom system that allows access for visitors. There is after-hours security for the safety of the residents. Our facility is monitored with CCTV for extra peace of mind for the families we serve.

Is there parking?

We offer one carpark per apartment for patients and their families staying at Rānui House at no additional cost.

Can I bring my pets?

Sorry, no pets allowed on premises although service animals are welcome – please advise our team prior to arrival and provide confirmation of service animal status.

What is in the Apartments?

Apartments are either one or two bedrooms with a separate lounge and include:

  • kitchen or kitchenette with a small fridge, toaster, kettle, sandwich maker, cutlery, crockery and a microwave
  • bathroom with toilet, shower, towels and hairdryer
  • laundry equipped with a washing machine, clothes dryer, iron, and ironing board
  • all bedding and linen supplied
  • television, DVD player & radio
  • underfloor heating and wall heaters

Other amenities at Rānui House?

Fully equipped communal kitchens with refrigerator and freezers for your use

Lounge with television and Sky TV

Library of books, DVDs and puzzles to borrow

Push chair, portacots, highchairs and rollaway beds

BBQ & outdoor tables and chairs

Outdoor clothes lines

Undercover bike shed

Mobility scooter

Electric wheelchair

Rānui car (available for short trips to pick up groceries or medical appointments)

What do I need to bring?

Personal toiletries

Clothing

Communication devices etc.

Food (all groceries can be purchased locally)

Can I cook and how do I get my groceries?

Rānui House has fully equipped communal kitchens for residents use.  There are fridges, freezers and cupboards available for you to store your food.

Supermarkets and food stores are only a short walk from Rānui House, New World Supermarket and Countdown offer Click and Collect and a delivery service to Rānui House.  PakNSave and Fresh Choice are also close to us. The wonderful Riverside Market is only a 10-minute stroll away and offers a myriad of tasty treats and dining options and we are closely located to the city’s vibrant dining scene – check-out Oxford Terrace if you are able.

The Boatshed Café is directly opposite Rānui, Pegasus Restaurant and Bar is a short stroll over the bridge.  The Café at the YMCA offers specials for guests of Rānui House and is just a one minute walk from our front door.

The Rānui House car is available to guests can use free of charge to go to other hospitals, medical appointments or pick up groceries. We just ask that you top-up the petrol when travelling longer distances.   Please do not hesitate to ask our team for any help you may need.

Are we allowed visitors?

Visitors are welcome. All visitors must sign-in on arrival and adhere to our House Rules of sanitising hands and wearing a mask in all communal areas.

Many of the guests staying in the House are undergoing treatment or have loved ones undergoing treatment and are immune compromised, therefore if you have been exposed to Covid-19 (refer to our Covid-19 restrictions for further details), unwell with vomiting, diarrhoea or flu-like symptoms in the last 48 hours, we respectfully ask that you stay away until you are well.

How can we keep in touch with friends and family?

Every room in the House has a phone. Your friends and family can call you directly on this phone number, 03 377 0501. Your phone extension will be the same as your room number.

Please ask your family and friends to send courier parcels and mail for your attention to our physical street address:

c/- Rānui House, 1 Cambridge Terrace, Christchurch, 8013 or to our mailing address PO Box 1833, Christchurch, 8104

 

Is there disability access?

Yes, shared areas in Rānui House are fully accessible. Several bedrooms are also fully accessible, including purpose designed wet floor showers. Please inform us at the time of your booking if you have any special requirements. Both buildings have elevators.

Contact Us

Rānui House provides accommodation for patients and their whānau who must travel to Christchurch for medical treatment.

For more information go to www.bmct.org.nz

Reception Hours
8.30am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday
Phone 03 377 2515
Email info@bmct.org.nz

Physical Address
Rānui House
1 Cambridge Terrace
Christchurch, 8013

Postal Address
Rānui House
PO Box 1833
Christchurch, 8140

 

After hours and weekend calls please phone 03 377 2515 and leave a message.
Email info@bmct.org.nz

Rānui House is a smoke, vape  and drug free environment.