The Ronald McDonald House Charities Family Unit is within the Newborn Special Care Unit based at Middlemore Hospital.

Neonatal care is a complex, specialist-operated, family-intense area of health care. It is not just the health and well-being of a newborn infant, but includes the well-being and positive functioning of the family, who must live with the long term outcomes of the care that has been provided to the newborn.

The central focus of the unit is the unwell newborn and their family. The principles and values that are central to the care of this family group are:
- holistic care of the newborn/ parent/ family
- partnership with parents
- privacy
- confidentiality
- cultural sensitivity
- acknowledgement of loss and grieving 

In particular the philosophy of including the parents as partners in care is very important in promoting the successful improvement in the newborn baby's health and the family's coping abilities. It is also fundamental to a successful transition back to home and community.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities Family Unit is two bedrooms inside the neonatal unit, so parents can be close to their newborn, for the better health and well-being of the newborn baby and family. Examples of these situations are:
- out of town transfers to the unit
- a critically ill or dying baby
- a need to establish breast feeding which requires mother to be 'on call'
- overnight stay where distance to home is preventing baby/family contact. 

This is a vital service that will serve many new born babies over the years ahead. Your support will ensure parents can be close to their new born for the better health and well being of the newborn baby and family.