A home from home for parents at GOSH

Rugby legend Matt Dawson joined Clare Woodman, Chief Operating Officer of Morgan Stanley’s Institutional Securities Group, to officially open Morgan Stanley House on Thursday 19 October.

This brand new accommodation close to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) allows parents of seriously ill children to stay close to their child.

An estimated 300 families a year are set to benefit from this new facility which accommodates parents a short walk away from the hospital’s central London location. More than 50 per cent of children treated at GOSH come from outside the capital and because of the specialist care given at the hospital, some need to stay for months on end – making it vital for their parents to have nearby accommodation.

Matt Dawson commented: “When our son, Sami, was rushed to Great Ormond Street Hospital, critically ill from meningitis, our lives were turned upside down. When you don’t know whether your child is going to survive an hour or a day, you want to be there for every single second. The very last thing we had a chance to think about was where we would stay."

"Thankfully, thanks to GOSH Charity, we were put up in parent accommodation a stone’s throw from the hospital so we never needed to be far from Sami’s side. I am delighted to help open Morgan Stanley House giving more parents somewhere to stay that is close to the hospital and their child.”

This new accommodation provides a place where parents of the most critically ill children being treated at GOSH can be accommodated free of charge. Morgan Stanley House offers eight private en-suite bedrooms, alongside a communal kitchen and living area where parents going through similar experiences can meet and share much needed support and comfort.

Tim Johnson, Chief Executive of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity added: “The support and generosity of Morgan Stanley staff has been incredible. Their fundraising has now resulted in comfortable, homely, spacious and fully equipped accommodation that will allow parents to be just minutes away from their child’s bedside when they are going through their most difficult times.”

Morgan Stanley House will be available for parents of children being treated at GOSH from Tuesday 24 October.

Find out more about Morgan Stanley House on Morgan Stanley's website.