VHI Healthcare's Nurseline

Wednesday, 16th March 2011

Over 900 calls to VHI Healthcare's Nurseline from Waterford in 2010

Vhi Healthcare's NurseLine service fielded over 67,000 calls from customers worried about their health last year, including over 900 from Waterford. The service provides 24 hour access to qualified nurses by phone and is available exclusively to Vhi Healthcare customers. Nurseline was launched eleven years ago and continues to grow in popularity each year.

Vhi NurseLine's pregnancy support service was as popular as ever with nearly 6000 calls received and nearly 5,000 calls were made by new mums who had just had their baby. The Vhi NurseLine midwives answered nearly 600 email queries and the nurses received approximately 1,100 general medical queries by email.

The figures were released to coincide with the announcement that Vhi Healthcare will host a series of free parenting seminars nationwide, given by well known parenting expert and Clinical Psychologist David Coleman (presenter of RTE hit series 'Teens in the Wild' and 'Families in Trouble'). Targeted at parents of children in primary school, the seminars will provide down-to-earth, practical advice and examples of how parents can build closer relationships with their children. The events are part of Vhi Healthcare's continued commitment to providing access to information and expert advice for its members and follow on from the successful seminars run by Vhi Healthcare in partnership with David Coleman in 2010. So far a seminar has been held in Galway and attended by over xxx people testament to the calibre of advice David Coleman can offer parents.

The remaining Vhi parenting seminars will take place in the following locations nationwide:
Waterford: 24th March - Tower Hotel.
Dundalk: 5th April - Crowne Plaza.
Dublin: 14th April - Bewley's Hotel, Ballsbridge.

Dr Bernadette Carr, Medical Director, Vhi Healthcare said, "Vhi Healthcare is committed to providing families in Ireland with expert advice and access to healthcare professionals. We offer families the most comprehensive and cost-effective cover in the Irish private health insurance market with our One and One+ plans and are on hand 365 days a year with expert advice via our NurseLine service. NurseLine from Vhi Healthcare provides us with direct access to the concerns of parents. We know that our customers welcome support when it comes to tackling their parenting problems and we have therefore teamed up with the very popular David Coleman to create these unique evenings."

Speaking about the parenting skills seminar David Coleman, Clinical Psychologist said: "Many parents feel they spend their time nagging and giving out in order to make their child behave. This can eventually lead both sides to feeling stuck in a rut of punishment which is counter-productive to positive and healthy relationships. Although there are no hard and fast rules for parenting, these seminars are designed to help mums and dads re-connect and build close, lasting bonds with their children."

The Vhi Healthcare parenting skills seminars will run from 7pm to 9pm and include a slot for questions and answers. Places can be booked by emailing Sinead.grayatvhi.ie . Places are limited and will be filled on a first come, first served basis therefore interested parents are advised to book early to avoid disappointment.