Financial support

Having a baby on the neonatal unit can have significant additional financial implications for the family, such as travel expenses and time off work.

Places to get help:

• There are charities offering financial support to parents receiving neonatal care. To find out what grants and benefits you may be entitled to visit: www.familyfund.org.uk/support
• The Healthy Start scheme: get help to buy food and milk. When you have a baby, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on, that you can use in some UK shops
• Neonatal Parent Leave – Neonatal Care Leave and Pay gives parents the opportunity to extend their parental leave by one week for every full week that their baby is receiving hospital care if their baby is admitted for neonatal care within 28 days of birth, and the treatment is for a continuous period of 7 days or more. For more information, visit the Bliss website: www.bliss.org.uk/parents/support/neonatal-care-leave-and-pay-guidance-and-faqs