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December 19, 2025 \u2014 2:10pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n Save this article for later<\/p>\n Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.<\/p>\n Got it<\/p>\n Staffing issues have forced the sudden and extended closure of Queensland\u2019s only hospice facility for children, with fears the service won\u2019t reopen as planned in the new year.<\/p>\n Hummingbird House in Chermside provides paediatric palliative care services for babies and children with life-limiting conditions, and is owned and operated by Wesley Mission Queensland.<\/p>\n While the facility usually closes for five days over the Christmas period, staff received a memo from WMQ notifying them the closure had been brought forward to this Friday, and would extend until January 12 when it \u201ccould reopen\u201d.<\/p>\n Staff were also asked to contact 11 families awaiting admission in the new year to cancel their time at the facility.<\/p>\n Queensland Nurses and Midwives\u2019 Union secretary Sarah Beaman said they were advised by members that staff and families received little to no consultation about the sudden closure, and expressed concerns the facility would not open within three weeks.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cGiven the lack of specialist palliative care\u202fstaff, the majority of who have been with Hummingbird House long-term,\u202fit is highly unlikely the facility could reopen on January 12,\u201d Beaman said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are deeply\u202fconcerned\u202ffor the wellbeing of terminally ill children\u202fcurrently in care\u202fat Hummingbird House, \u202fand\u202ftheir families.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are also deeply concerned for\u202fthe\u202fchildren\u202fand families due to enter\u202fthe eight-bed facility\u202fin the new year, and\u202fchildren requiring\u202fpalliative care\u202fin the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Adding to the uncertainty was the resignation and removal of several senior medical professionals, including specialist paediatric palliative doctors, in recent weeks. <\/p>\n A spokesperson for Hummingbird House did not comment on staff turnover but said: \u201cDue to limited doctor availability over the Christmas and New Year period, we have made the difficult decision to bring forward our Christmas closure, starting Friday afternoon 19 December 2025.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe expect to reopen for families on 12 January 2026,\u201d they continued.<\/p>\n \u201cWe understand this temporary closure may cause disruption to families and we are working closely with them to provide alternative options and rebook their respite in the New Year.\u201d<\/p>\n The spokesperson said the hospice is a Level 3 facility under the Clinical Service Capability Framework, which means \u201ca doctor is not required to be on site at all times\u201d.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cPatients and staff are supported by the Paediatric Palliative Care Service in the Queensland Children\u2019s Hospital and we work collaboratively to ensure continuity of care.<\/p>\n \u201cOur purpose of providing specialised paediatric palliative care to children and families remains unchanged.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked about Hummingbird House\u2019s imminent closure on Friday, Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the facility was facing difficulties \u201cretaining and holding staff\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe expect Wesley Mission, as we expect all partners in Queensland Health \u2026 to manage their system appropriately and to fund [and staff it] appropriately [and] to meet all guidelines.\u201d<\/p>\n Hummingbird House receives state and federal tax funding and public donations, including from an annual Coles fundraiser which raised close to $700,000 last year.<\/p>\n Since mid-2022, WMQ have reported more than $1 billion in revenue.<\/p>\n In a statement, Hummingbird House said a recent review \u201cidentified the need to reduce the number of senior managers to align with best practice and ensure more resources are directed to frontline services\u201d but did not directly link this to the facility\u2019s closure.<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/86198678e40dfb23cfea941efc7c68df7c03956a91badea1cad49a0bf7803d23.jpeg\")
A memo sent to staff this week said Hummingbird House expected it \u201ccould reopen\u201d on January 12. Hummingbird House <\/p>\n![\"Together](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dc4b8eb6e711f8ae481b7903740b2e4275523449.jpeg\")
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