New opening hours for Bliss Family Support freephone helpline 
(27/11/2008)
Parents of sick and premature babies spend long hours in the neonatal unit and it is not always easy or convenient for them to get to the phone during normal business hours. They often leave the hospital outside these hours, tired and weary from what can be a very traumatic time.
Bliss, the special care baby charity, has launched new opening hours for its Family Support freephone helpline. This family support service will now be open Monday to Friday from 10am to 10pm and Saturdays 9am to 1pm. The phones will be staffed by specially trained volunteers during the extended hours in a six month pilot scheme being funded by the Department of Health. These extended hours mean that all parents can get the help, support and advice they need at a time convenient for them.
The Family Support team can offer information and support on a number of issues surrounding babies born too soon, too small or too sick, such as feeding, skin to skin contact, development, financial advice, going home on oxygen and many other situations that parents may face.
The Bliss Family Support helpline gave Joanne Smith the crucial support she needed when she gave birth to her baby Freya three months early. She weighed just 1lb 12oz and was given a 50 per cent chance of survival by medical staff. Joanne says “I used the Bliss freephone helpline, I wanted advice on what benefits I could receive as I was in so much shock, we weren’t financially ready, plus with being 200 miles away from home. The lady was very helpful, gave me advice and also sent loads of leaflets out on benefits and other essential things to consider. I think Bliss is an excellent charity to support as it has helped me and also many others in my situation. Especially because you don’t always know anyone who has had a premature baby before, it’s nice to hear about other people’s stories and that does give you hope.”
Bliss offers a whole range of other services including access to over 170 languages through telephone interpreting service, Language Line, Blisstext, a text message service, an email service plus a range of useful publications. They also provide Parents 4 Parents which is telephone support from parents who have been in a similar situation, a message board on their website where other families, chat, offer support and advice and a network of support groups throughout the UK offering community support.
The Bliss freephone helpline number is 0500 618140.
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