Bliss (charity)
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
The 1990s saw the introduction of artificial pulmonary surfactants
and antenatal steroid
s 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
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
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 .
They run study days to promote techniques like Kangaroo care
to doctors
and nurses and they fund research through their innovation fund . Bliss also raise awareness of the issues affecting special care babies by campaigning for change within government
and the NHS
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
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 TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
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.
The 1990s saw the introduction of artificial pulmonary surfactants
Pulmonary surfactant
Pulmonary surfactant is a surface-active lipoprotein complex formed by type II alveolar cells. The proteins and lipids that surfactant comprises have both a hydrophilic region and a hydrophobic region...
and antenatal steroid
Antenatal steroid
Antenatal steroids are steroids given before birth. Betamethasone and dexamethasone are used with the intention to help the lungs of a premature fetus develop before the fetus comes out. They are given when the fetus is expected to be delivered within 24 to 48 hours...
s which reduced infant mortality
Infant mortality
Infant mortality is defined as the number of infant deaths per 1000 live births. Traditionally, the most common cause worldwide was dehydration from diarrhea. However, the spreading information about Oral Re-hydration Solution to mothers around the world has decreased the rate of children dying...
and meant more premature babies began to survive. During this decade, Bliss was chosen as the charity for the Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
appeal twice, raising £2.7million and helping to raise awareness about underfunding in neonatal intensive care units
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
National Health Service (England)
The National Health Service or NHS is the publicly funded healthcare system in England. It is both the largest and oldest single-payer healthcare system in the world. It is able to function in the way that it does because it is primarily funded through the general taxation system, similar to how...
. The story made the front page of the Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
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 .
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 .They run study days to promote techniques like Kangaroo care
Kangaroo care
Kangaroo care is a technique practiced on newborn, usually preterm, infants wherein the infant is held, skin-to-skin, with an adult. Kangaroo care for pre-term infants may be restricted to a few hours per day, but if they are medically stable that time may be extended. Some parents may keep their...
to doctors
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and nurses and they fund research through their innovation fund . Bliss also raise awareness of the issues affecting special care babies by campaigning for change within government
Government of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Government is the central government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Government is led by the Prime Minister, who selects all the remaining Ministers...
and the NHS
National Health Service (England)
The National Health Service or NHS is the publicly funded healthcare system in England. It is both the largest and oldest single-payer healthcare system in the world. It is able to function in the way that it does because it is primarily funded through the general taxation system, similar to how...
.