Bliss (charity)

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Formation 1979
Legal status Registered charity no. 1002973
Purpose/focus To ensure more special care babies survive and go on to have the best possible quality of life
Headquarters London
Location United Kingdom
Region served England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands
Website http://www.bliss.org.uk

Bliss is the UK charity that helps care for premature and sick babies. They support families, fund research and campaign for improved hospital resources.
Its patron is HRH The Duchess of Gloucester and its chief executive is Andy Cole.

History

Bliss was begun in 1979 when a letter was sent to the Daily Telegraph [1] in response to a story on neonatal intensive care units. Allan Chilvers suggested setting up a society to raise funds for life-saving equipment like incubators for premature babies and BLISS (Baby Life Support Systems) was born. In 5 years £750,000 was raised and equipment had been given to 82 hospitals.[2]

The 1990s saw the introduction of artificial pulmonary surfactants and antenatal steroids which reduced infant mortality and meant more premature babies began to survive. During this decade, Bliss was chosen as the charity for the Blue Peter appeal twice, raising £2.7million and helping to raise awareness about underfunding in neonatal intensive care units [2]

In 2000 Bliss ran a campaign to show that neonatal intensive care units in the UK were relying on the charity for equipment, rather than the NHS. The story made the front page of the Daily Express [3] and £6.5million was then announced for neonatal intensive care. From 2000, Bliss decided to spend less money on equipment and started funding medical training and research.[2]

Bliss today

Bliss’ work today helps special care babies through campaigning, research and family support services. They provide support for families through their helpline, messageboard and support groups and they also provide publications to parents and neonatal intensive care units on subjects like understanding equipment and weaning.[4]

They run study days to promote techniques like Kangaroo care to doctors and nurses and they fund research through their innovation fund.[5] Bliss also raise awareness of the issues affecting special care babies by campaigning for change within government and the NHS.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Chilvers, A, 1979. A reader’s response: a plea to save babies’ lives. The Daily Telegraph, 24 Aug
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bliss, Three Decades and Counting: Bliss 30th Birthday Baby Report, 2009
  3. ↑ Ellis, R, 2000. NHS Puts Babies Lives in Hand of Charities. Daily Express, 2 Oct. p1
  4. ↑ http://www.bliss.org.uk/page.asp?section=319&sectionTitle=Support+for+families
  5. ↑ http://www.bliss.org.uk/page.asp?section=54&sectionTitle=Innovation+fund
  6. ↑ http://www.bliss.org.uk/page.asp?section=65&sectionTitle=Key+campaigning+activities+and+issues

External links

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