Accommodation while receiving medical care

If you’re from regional or remote Queensland and need to travel to a big coastal hospital for medical care, Red Cross runs these affordable, comfortable accommodation centres right next to hospitals. They’re for patients and their families while they receive treatment.

Cairns Wellbeing Centre – Pat Gosper Place

The Cairns Wellbeing Centre – Pat Gosper Place is a distinctive accommodation centre providing a welcome home-away-from-home for patients and their carers from some of the most remote parts of far north Queensland who are receiving medical treatment in Cairns. The centre offers quality, affordable accommodation in an inclusive, healing, safe and culturally appropriate environment.

The 44-room facility is located adjacent to the Cairns Hospital and Liz Plummer Cancer Care Centre. All rooms have ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning, TV and small fridges with a communal guest kitchen, dining area and laundry. Accessibility rooms are offered subject to availability for those with reduced mobility.

Cairns Wellbeing Centre – Pat Gosper Place
Cnr Lake & Grove Streets, Cairns QLD 4870 [map]
Phone 07 3199 4100

Office hours
6am–10pm, 7 days

Check-in times
2pm–9pm (room may be ready earlier subject to availability)

Cost
If you are eligible for the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS), there are no out-of-pocket expenses to pay. Please contact your local hospital or clinic to lodge your application for approval prior to your travel.

If you are not eligible for the PTSS, the cost is $70 per person. Please note there is a minimum of a 2 night stay for single person bookings.

Townsville Wellbeing Centre

This 20-room accommodation facility centre allows you to rest and recuperate while you are in Townsville, receiving medical treatment or visiting loved ones. 

This home-away-from-home is on the Townsville University Hospital Campus and each room has an ensuite, TV, fridge, and tea and coffee making amenities.   

It is a secured facility with 24-hour CCTV monitoring, key-only access for guests and features a spacious outdoor area with a community garden and barbecues. Boasting a large communal kitchen, two coin-operated laundries and a communal TV room for short and long term guests.   

Staff and volunteers can support guests ensuring a comfortable stay with mobility aids for loan and basic toiletries and frozen meals available at the reception-shop.

Townsville Wellbeing Centre
100 Angus Smith Drive, Douglas QLD 4814 [map]
Phone 07 3199 4167
Email townsville_wbc@redcross.org.au

Office hours
Weekdays 8.30am–5.00pm
Closed weekends and public holidays.

Check-in times
Weekdays 8.30am–5.00pm
Available after hours/weekends by appointment. 

Cost
If you are eligible for the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS), there are no out-of-pocket expenses to pay. Please contact your local hospital or clinic to lodge your application for approval prior to your travel.

If you are not eligible for the PTSS, the cost is $70 per person. Please note there is a minimum of a 2 night stay for single person bookings.

Mackay Accommodation Wellbeing Centre

Red Cross Mackay Accommodation Centre is a six-room accommodation facility allowing people to rest and recuperate while in Mackay either receiving medical treatment or visiting loved ones.

The accommodation centre is situated at 10 Thomas Street, West Mackay and is located within the Mackay Base Hospital grounds. The centre is approximately 300 metres from the Mackay Base Hospital with well-lit concrete pathways.

The centre is approximately 1km from supermarkets, pharmacies and takeaway food venues.

The Mackay centre has two downstairs disability rooms and four rooms upstairs including four rooms with three beds and two rooms with two beds. Each room has its own ensuite along with a TV and DVD player. All the rooms are air conditioned.

The centre offers a large fully equipped communal kitchen with two large fridge/freezers along with a communal TV-watching area. The centre also offers an outdoor covered area with tables and chairs. Each unit has a laundry with washing machine, dryer and ironing board. There are three drying lines outside. There is a secure car park next to our building.

Volunteer staff are available to help with any queries and ensure guests have a comfortable stay.

Mackay Accommodation Wellbeing Centre
10 Thomas Street, West Mackay QLD 4740 [map]
Phone 07 4957 2310
Email qldmackaywbc@redcross.org.au

Office hours
Weekdays 8.30am – 3.00pm
Closed weekends and public holidays.

Check in times
Weekdays – any time after 10.30am.
Weekends – arrangements are made for keys to be collected at the Mackay Base Hospital Emergency Department.

Check out time
9am unless prior arrangements are made.

Cost
If you are eligible for the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS), there are no out-of-pocket expenses to pay. 

If you are not eligible for the PTSS, the cost is $40 per person per night. Weekly rates are available. Children 14–18 years are $10 per child. There is no charge for children under 14 years.

Rockhampton Wellbeing Centre

Red Cross House is just a short walk across the road from Rockhampton’s major public hospital. It provides safe and affordable accommodation and a range of wellbeing services to patients and their carers travelling from rural and remote Queensland for specialist medical services that are not available in their local community.

The 27-bed wellbeing centre has 12 rooms, each with its own ensuite. An additional two rooms will open soon for people with reduced mobility. There are nine rooms with two single beds and three family rooms. The centre has several communal areas including kitchen, laundry and informal gathering areas.

Rockhampton Wellbeing Centre
1 Canning St, Rockhampton QLD 4700 [map]
Phone 07 3367 4736

Office hours
Weekdays 9.30am–4.30pm
After hours check in is available.

Cost
If you are eligible for the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme, accommodation is free, with a $20 deposit.

If you are not eligible for the PTSS, accommodation is $60 for the first person and $40 for the second and third person per night.