Petition to Downing Street
The link here is to an e-petition to Downing Street to call for the screening of all pregnant women for this. For those who don't know, Group B Strep is carried harmlessly in around a quarter of the population and is often present in the vagina. If, however, this is passed on to a baby during childbirth, or if the waters break prior to birth and the infection is present the consequences can be fatal for the baby. A very close friend has just lost her baby at full term, and whilst they are awaiting full results from the hospital Group B Strep infection is the most likely cause. Tests to check for this cost around £30 - the NHS often don't screen as some methods of testing can be unreliable, but in other countries eg the USA it is a routine test. There are more reliable tests available - the GBS support website has lots of info that I won't repeat here as I have gone on enough.
Just sign the bloody petition please.
Rant over.