06-Jan-09: Bliss meets Minister »

Bliss along with parents of sick or premature babies recently met with the Minister for Care Services, Ann Keen MP. The parents, who had been cared for in a range of different hospitals, got the chance to tell the Minister about their experience of neonatal care services.

Although every parent had a unique story to tell, there were several common themes. One of these was that none of their babies received one to one nursing care even when they were at their sickest. When in intensive care, children and adults are cared for on a one nurse to one patient basis. Babies in neonatal intensive care very rarely receive the same one to one care.

Sarah Collins, whose daughter, Izzy, was born at 27 weeks said "The Health Minister, a former nurse, seemed to take on board that as parents we had nothing but praise for the nurses who had cared for our premature babies. I hope that the individual stories about our own babies and their journeys will convince her of the pressing need for one to one nursing for the vulnerable babies needing Intensive Care."

Bliss Chief Executive, Andy Cole said, “The meeting with Ann Keen MP was very positive and we were delighted to have the opportunity for the parents to share their experiences. The minister gave us an hour and a half of her time and pledged her support to making neonatal care one of the top priorities in the coming months.”

[Pictured LTR: Ann Keen MP, Nicola O’Connor, Anna Mclynn, Sarah Collins]