Mims Davies MP attended a parliamentary event on Wednesday 12 July 2023 held by Group B Strep Support to mark July’s Group B Strep Awareness Month.
New data shows that two-thirds of new and expectant mothers did not receive any information about group B Streptococcus (also known as group B Strep, GBS or Strep B) from a healthcare professional, despite the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG) recommending that this information should be provided to all pregnant women since 2017.
Group B Strep is the most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborn babies, causing serious infections including sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis. In the UK, on average
- two babies a day develop group B Strep infection
- one baby a week dies from group B Strep infection and
- one baby a week recovers from their group B Strep infection with a life-changing disability
Yet most of these cases could be prevented.
Group B Strep Support is calling for midwives to have better training and education on GBS to ensure they’re fully supported to inform expectant parents about prevention, testing that may be available and key signs of infection.
Commenting, Mims Davies MP said:
I've supported the work of Group B Strep Support since my election to Parliament in 2015 and I commend Jane on her tireless campaigning to raise awareness of Group B Strep infection. In this country, Group B Strep is the most common cause of severe infection in newborn babies and it is therefore vital that new mothers are aware of the signs of infection. Being a parent brings many worries and fears, Strep B should not be one.