Prince Edward visits Mercy Hospital for Women

Prince Edward took time off from his Commonwealth Games duties to meet mothers and staff in Mercy's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which provides care for the State's most premature or seriously ill babies.

The Prince toured the Intensive Care Unit and talked with several mothers whose babies are being cared for by Mercy.

After the tour Prince Edward attended a Lions House Foundation luncheon in Ivanhoe to raise funds to build the 'Lions House'.

The 'Lions House' will provide affordable accommodation and a supportive environment, for rural families of patients being cared for at Mercy Hospital for Women or the nearby Austin and Repatriation Hospitals.

At the Lunch it was announced that the Health Minister Bronwyn Pike has granted the Lions House Foundation land for the new Lions house on the Repatriation Hospital site.

The Prince was met in the Mercy Hospital foyer by the Health Minister Bronwyn Pike, Sir James and Lady Gobbo and Mercy staff.

Stephen Cornelissen Mercy's Chief Operating Officer said, "We really appreciate the Prince's support of the Lions House project. Babies often need our specialist care for months and families from rural Victoria can experience real problems finding accommodation close to Mercy Hospital for Women."

The Neonatal Nursery at Mercy Hospital for Women has 62 cots and 20 of these are Neonatal Intensive care cots. This makes the NICU the largest in Victoria and one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. The Unit cares for around 1,100 babies a year.

Sir James and Lady Gobbo are patrons of the Lions House Foundation. The Lions House will provide 30 bedrooms and communal rooms that will enable parents and family members to share experiences and support each other.