«Breaking News» All expectant mothers should be tested for killer GBS bacteria, activists say

Campaigners say testing pregnant women for a bacteria that kills dozens of babies a year would easily pay for itself by saving the NHS a fortune in compensation.

About 35 infants die every year after becoming infected with Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a common bacteria that can be passed from mother to child in labour.

A further 25 are left with serious disabilities including brain damage, sometimes resulting in compensation payouts of over £10 million.

The NHS gives antibiotics to pregnant women deemed at high risk of having GBS, but critics say many are missed. The Health Department said it was investigating trialling universal screening for GBS [File photo]

The Government’s UK National Screening Committee last year rejected a programme to swab all pregnant women for GBS and give antibiotics to those who tested positive on the grounds it was not ‘cost-effective’. 

But the charity Group B Strep Support and lawyers say the committee failed to assess the cost to the NHS of legal fees and compensation.

The lawyers believe that avoiding just one or two tragedies each year would save more than the cost of the tests. 

Alison Eddy, head of medical negligence at law firm Irwin Mitchell, said: ‘It’s hard to imagine GBS cases are costing the NHS less than £10 million in compensation and legal fees a year.’

A GBS swab would cost about £11, resulting in a total cost of about £8 million a year. 

Around a fifth of those tested would require antibiotics, something about which the screening committee is concerned.

Martha Rudd, ten, was left severely brain-damaged after doctors at Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford failed to detect GBS infection at birth. In 2016, the High Court awarded her parents a seven-figure sum to pay for her care.

About 35 infants die every year after becoming infected with Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a common bacteria that can be passed from mother to child in labour [File photo]

‘GBS has had a huge effect on Martha and our family, which could have been prevented if there had been routine screening in place,’ said her father, Adam, 40.

The NHS gives antibiotics to pregnant women deemed at high risk of having GBS, but critics say many are missed.

The Health Department said it was investigating trialling universal screening for GBS. 

Link hienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/30/all-expectant-mothers-should-be-tested-for-killer-gbs-bacteria-activists-say/
Main photo article Campaigners say testing pregnant women for a bacteria that kills dozens of babies a year would easily pay for itself by saving the NHS a fortune in compensation.
About 35 infants die every year after becoming infected with Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a common bacteria that can be passed from...

It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.

Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca





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