- Conference
- 2016 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 13 October 2015
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference notes that Group B Strep is a potentially fatal infection for newborn babies. In fact, it is recorded as the biggest killer of newborns and that it colonises in the vagina of 22% of all women.
Because the women are carriers rather than being infected by the bacteria there are no symptoms therefore this is not detected. However during birth the baby comes into contact with the bacteria and can be infected resulting in potentially fatal septicaemia or even meningitis.
There is currently no routine testing for Group B Strep during pregnancy within the NHS despite a simple culture test being available, though we note that this is available in some NHS trusts, depending on where you live.
If it is known that the expectant mother is a carrier of Group B Strep simple precautions can be taken that reduce the mortality rate.
Conference therefore calls on National Women’s Committee to:
a)Raise awareness by producing an advisory leaflet for inclusion in the Women’s Health Pack
b)To work with the appropriate bodies including Labour Link to lobby the Department of Health and the UK National Screening Committee for Group B Strep testing to be a routine procedure within the NHS for all pregnant women between 35 and 37 weeks gestation.
