Thank you to every one who has already signed this new petition.
It is particularly encouraging to know that not just friends and family of mine/Jessica's have signed it but many others as well - including midwives and doctors - showing that there is real need and desire for simple change that can have such a positive impact on lives.
I'd really like to encourage everyone to ask partners, friends, family and colleagues to sign as well, and there is no minimum (or maximum) age! If you passed the link on to ten or more people (and there's no promise of fame and fortune, nor threat of famine and disease attached to this!) the exponential effect would be very powerful.
Some NHS Trusts are already starting to use Modified Early Obstetric Warning charts, but some use them only for 'at risk' mothers. I'd like to see them being used routinely for every new mum. They are a useful aid in quickly spotting a problem with a mother's health - for any reason - and can be an indication to all midwives and doctors involved that a woman needs prompt medical intervention.
Particularly in the case of childbed fever, timely use of antibiotics can be vital as a group A strep infection can kill in a matter of hours rather than days.
So far, the NHS does not have a clear set of guidelines for the detection and treatment of sepsis which, together with the use of MEOWS, would greatly reduce the chance of severe illness and/or death.
I also believe, without for a minute wanting to alarm or create terror, that all mothers and their partners should know of and understand the risks of a uterine infection, so that instead of thinking that maybe it's a case of flu, they immediately refer themselves back to their midwife or GP, thus saving precious time.
I hope, through the petition, that a large number of other parents and parents-to-be especially agree with this premise, and that together we can show the government that we believe action should be taken now, and not after another unnecessary death from this archaic illness.
Thank you again for your continued and important support.