A Brighton mother is backing a campaign to highlight the need for more support for babies born too soon.
Carolyn Syverson, whose son Gabriel, 14, was born 11 weeks premature, is working with the premature baby charity Bliss, which is campaigning against cuts in nursing staff.
In a report, the charity found that one in three hospitals caring for premature and sick babies are making cuts to their workforce, despite 70,000 premature babies needing specialist care every year.
Ms Syverson took part in a lobby organised by the charity at the House of Commons and spoke to MPs, including Eastbourne MP Stephen Lloyd.
Gabriel weighed just 2lbs when he was born, had feeding problems and had to stay in hospital for three months.
He is now healthy, although he was slow meeting his targets to eat, speak, and walk, and has severe dyslexia.
Ms Syverson said: “I felt honoured to be helping a charity like Bliss. Meeting Stephen Lloyd was an opportunity to persuade him to take action locally to support frontline services for premature and sick babies.”
Mr Lloyd said: “One in nine babies is admitted to specialist hospital care each year. Babies have the same right to care as everyone else, yet most vulnerable babies are not always getting the care they need.
"I am delighted to support Bliss to ensure all babies born premature and sick get the care they need.”
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