We are delighted to announce we’re working with the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG) to produce a clear and concise patient information leaflet on group B Strep to be given to all pregnant women. The leaflet is based on the RCOG’s Green-top Guideline on group B Strep (due to be published in September 2017).
This is a huge step forward in the campaign to prevent GBS infection in new babies, as for the first time, all pregnant women will be given information about group B Strep as a routine part of antenatal care.
A key part of the process of developing the information leaflet is the peer review process – comments are welcomed on the draft Group B Streptococcus (GBS) Infection in Pregnancy Patient Information Leaflet by noon on Monday, 11 September 2017.
You can make general comments about the whole leaflet, or specific comments on individual sections, or both!
We are very pleased with the content of this joint leaflet, most notably:
- It explains the potential risks of GBS infection, and how to minimise them
- It highlights the symptoms of early onset GBS infection, and what action to take if necessary
- It mentions late onset GBS infection and will link to a page on our website (not set up yet) specifically on late onset GBS infection, including signs and symptoms.
- It clarifies what should happen if a women carried GBS in a previous pregnancy and the baby was not infected with GBS (mum should be offered choice of ECM testing or automatic IV antibiotics in labour)
- It highlights that further information about testing is available from www.gbss.org.uk/Testing4GBS
Of course, there are things we would like to see changed – for example, the UK National Screening Committee don’t currently recommend routine screening for GBS in pregnancy – and the RCOG is constrained by that recommendation. But that is a matter for the future.
Right now, we are keen that everyone’s views are heard – whether you’re a member of the public or a health professional. Feed back what you like, and what you don’t. Praise and constructive criticism are both welcome!
Please feed back your comments on the patient information leaflet:
- The RCOG are running an online questionnaire on the leaflet (response by noon on Monday 11 September 2017)
Alternatively, you can respond in the following two ways:
- to Group B Strep Support to be included in our submission via GBSS peer review template (24KB) (response by noon on Friday, 9 September 2017)
- to the RCOG via their online questionnaire, or via the RCOG’s peer review template (23KB) (response by noon on Monday 11 September 2017)
We will send our comments to the RCOG, sharing the views submitted to us, ahead of the final deadline. Please note that we may summarise or edit comments. We will not share individual or identifiable feedback with them.
If you have any problems downloading the forms, or you’d like further information, or would prefer to phone through or email your comments, please get in touch with Oliver Plumb on 01444 416176 or oplumb@gbss.org.uk.
“This is a fabulous step forward – for new and expectant parents, and their health professionals.
A joint GBSS/RCOG patient information leaflet on group B Strep that provides clear, concise and consistent information, which can then be provided to all pregnant women throughout the NHS will improve knowledge and awareness, as well as reduce the mixed messages that are sometimes given about GBS.
Peer reviewing is vital to ensure that the information leaflet is thoroughly tested with a wide range of people – parents and professionals – so that we can be confident of its contents before finalising it. The more who look at it and contribute to the discussion, the better the final version will be.
We are delighted to be part of this process and invite many others to be too.”
