Provide tests for group B Strep to prevent any more avoidable deaths of newborn babies
Since 2003, the UK has used ‘risk factors’ to guess which pregnant women might be at risk. Risk factors are poor at predicting which babies will develop group B Strep infection – the number of babies infected is growing, we need to stop guessing and start testing. The Group B Strep-specific ECM test costs the NHS £11 each and the antibiotics used in labour (usually Penicillin) cost the NHS pennies.
“My partner Scott and I should have been sharing our son Edward’s first birthday last month. But instead of having that exciting first year to celebrate and many more to look forward to, we had just nine precious days to spend with our beautiful son. Edward was cruelly taken from us as a result of contracting group B Strep infection at birth.”
— Fiona Paddon
