GROUP B STREP AWARENESS MONTH

That this House supports Group B Strep Awareness Month in July 2013 and notes that this will raise much needed awareness of an infection that is recognised as the most common cause of serious infection in newborn babies; recognises that group B Streptococcus (GBS) causes septicaemia, pneumonia and meningitis, which all require intensive care and treatment; acknowledges that most of these infections could be prevented; welcomes the Government's recent commitment to better prevention of these devastating infections, including supporting research and making available better diagnostic tests for GBS within the NHS as are available in other developed countries; and congratulates Group B Strep Support for the work it does to raise awareness, improve prevention and support families affected by group B Strep.