A charity for the parents of disabled children is launching a new helpline following a survey which indicated that not enough help and support was available.

The Birth Defects Foundation, based in Cannock, Staffordshire, conducted a survey of parent's experiences, entitled Listening to Special Families.

The families who took part all had a child with one of approximately 3,000 birth defects dealt with by the foundation.

Findings showed that many parents were forced to wait long periods of time to get a diagnosis for their child.

Parents reported first noticing "something wrong" with their child at the average age of 1.2 years. The average age of diagnosis was 3.6 years.

Some parents felt obliged to pay privately for professional help such as speech therapy and occupational therapy, and 60% of respondents said that a charity had been an important source of information and support.

And many parents who answered the survey had received no help at all from social services.

The report highlighted the detrimental effect that looking after a special child has on the relationships of parents, and on siblings.

Now the charity is extending its "Here to Help" - a free and confidential phone and email service - to cover weekends and after work hours.

The charity says its new service will be staffed by experienced nurses, and will have back-up support from doctors and researchers from its medical research portfolio.

It will give a listening ear to families and promises to take time "to appreciate each family's unique experience and tailor information to help".

Donna Covey, Director of the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales said that local CHCs can help parents formulate complaints if they feel their concerns are not being adequately addressed.

She said: "If parents feel they need help to make a complaint about the service they are receiving from the NHS they can contact their local CHC for advice on how to go about it.

"The number of their CHC should be available from their GP or hospital or can be found in the phone book."

The BDF can be contacted on 01543 462777, or by email at enquiries@birthdefects.co.uk