bliss relaunches going home pack
TRANSCRIPT
Journal of Neonatal Nursing (2010) 16, 210e212
www.elsevier.com/jneo
PARENTS’ REFLECTIONS
Bliss relaunches Going Home Pack
Kellie Stewart
Available online 11 August 2010
After a very successful first 12 months, specialcare baby charity Bliss has revised and updated it’sGoing Home Pack for families of premature andsick babies and have funding to continue itsdistribution to neonatal units around the country.Funded by Pampers, Abbott Ltd and ForestersFriendly Society, the new packs have been deliv-ered to units.
We had an extremely positive response to thepack last year as it was the first time that familiesof sick and premature babies were given a specificpack when taking their baby home. We askedparents and health professionals for their feedbackand over two thirds of parents found the packhelpful. Some comments included, “Excellent anduseful”, “Very practical way of receiving infor-mation”, one mum also said it made her feel likea ‘normal mum’.
Health professionals, when asked how usefulthe pack was for parents on a scale of 1e5 (5beingvery helpful), 91 per cent rated it 4 or 5.
The 2010 Going Home Pack contains a range ofbooklets; such as breastfeeding, weaning, and newfor this year, the pack now includes our Common
winter illnesses booklet. The pack also holdsinformation on all of Bliss’ family support servicesas well as vouchers and discounts from selectedBliss partners.
The main booklet, Going home e the next bigstep, can be referred to for general information.The booklet then directs parents to other morespecific subjects, including financial advice andsupport for dads.
Carmel Bartley, Bliss’ Family Support Manager,says: “Before we launched this pack last year,there was nothing like it available. Parents needall this information and we can now provide itthrough one excellent resource, one that alsohelps parents celebrate the fact that their baby isfinally coming home after days, weeks or evenmonths spent on a unit.”
If your baby is preparing to leave special care,ask your unit about the Going Home Pack or formore information call Bliss’ Family Support Help-line on Freephone 0500 618140 or visit our website,www.bliss.org.uk.
E-mail: [email protected]
doi:10.1016/j.jnn.2010.07.012
Chris and Nicola’s story
Kellie Stewart
Available online 12 August 2010
Chris and Nicola from Lockerbie were terrifiedwhen their baby Millie was born at 24 weeks in2005, weighing just 750 g. Millie was whisked away
to intensive care where she stayed for eight weeks.During this time she suffered three cerebral hae-morrhages, had a total of eight blood transfusions