GROUP B STREPTOCOCCUS (No. 2)

That this House notes that Group B streptococcus (GBS) is the most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborn babies in the UK and Ireland, affecting one in 2000 babies born every year; congratulates Group B Strep Support, the UK's only charity focused on GBS infection in newborn babies, on its continued work to raise awareness of the infection, testing and prevention; recognises that a small but growing number of NHS trusts have introduced ECM testing which is twice as effective as traditional HVS testing; is concerned that prevalence of deaths relating to GBS has been steadily rising since 2003; urges the Department of Health to ensure ECM testing is available urgently; and further supports both the efficacy of screening and the need for a vaccine made available on the NHS.