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Staffing issues have forced the sudden and extended closure of Queensland’s only hospice facility for children, with fears the service won’t reopen as planned in the new year.
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.
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 “could reopen”.
A memo sent to staff this week said Hummingbird House expected it “could reopen” on January 12. Credit: Hummingbird House
Staff were also asked to contact 11 families awaiting admission in the new year to cancel their time at the facility.
Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ 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.
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“Given the lack of specialist palliative care staff, the majority of who have been with Hummingbird House long-term, it is highly unlikely the facility could reopen on January 12,” Beaman said.
“We are deeply concerned for the wellbeing of terminally ill children currently in care at Hummingbird House, and their families.
“We are also deeply concerned for the children and families due to enter the eight-bed facility in the new year, and children requiring palliative care in the future.”
Adding to the uncertainty was the resignation and removal of several senior medical professionals, including specialist paediatric palliative doctors, in recent weeks.
A spokesperson for Hummingbird House did not comment on staff turnover but said: “Due 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.”
“We expect to reopen for families on 12 January 2026,” they continued.
“We 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.”
The spokesperson said the hospice is a Level 3 facility under the Clinical Service Capability Framework, which means “a doctor is not required to be on site at all times”.
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“Patients and staff are supported by the Paediatric Palliative Care Service in the Queensland Children’s Hospital and we work collaboratively to ensure continuity of care.
“Our purpose of providing specialised paediatric palliative care to children and families remains unchanged.”
Asked about Hummingbird House’s imminent closure on Friday, Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the facility was facing difficulties “retaining and holding staff”.
“We expect Wesley Mission, as we expect all partners in Queensland Health … to manage their system appropriately and to fund [and staff it] appropriately [and] to meet all guidelines.”
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.
Since mid-2022, WMQ have reported more than $1 billion in revenue.
In a statement, Hummingbird House said a recent review “identified the need to reduce the number of senior managers to align with best practice and ensure more resources are directed to frontline services” but did not directly link this to the facility’s closure.
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