Bliss campaigns to improve the resources available in neonatal care and the outcomes for babies born too soon, too small or too sick to cope on their own.

They talk to the Government, MPs and other policy makers to improve services. They work with their supporters, doctors and nurses and the media to bring these issues to public attention.

What does Bliss want to change in neonatal services?

One to One nursing in neonatal care

Bliss want the same standard of care in neonatal intensive care as there is in adult intensive care. Currently this is not the case. While each adult in intensive care can expect to receive one-to-one nursing, Bliss has found that only five per cent of neonatal units provide this level of care, despite the recommendations of a government expert working group. This means that doctors and nurses are having to work well above agreed capacity and they are placed under pressure by doing so.

An end to unnecessary transfers of babies

In 2003, in response to the recommendations of an expert working group, units were organised into 23 neonatal networks so that 95 per cent of babies (apart from those with rare conditions) could be cared for within their local area. While this has reduced the volume of long distance transfers, babies and parents are still regularly moved hundreds of miles. And too many babies are still being moved outside of their networks in order to find a bed, rather than because of medical need.

A reduction in infant mortality in all areas of the country

Although infant mortality rates are relatively low in the UK, there are huge differences between different parts of the country. For example, a baby born in central Birmingham is eight times more likely to die before his or her first birthday than one born in mid-Surrey. There are a number of reasons for these differences, but one of the major ones is poor general health and low standards of living. Bliss wants the government to start addressing these inequalities by providing education and funding to vulnerable groups.