Petition · past parliament
Make screening for group B strep a routine screen for women during pregnancy.
Closed
36 signatures
What the petition asks
Group B streptococcus is a bacteria which lives inside the body and is carried by one in three expectant mothers. The bug can be potentially life-threatening to babies. In the UK, pregnant women are not routinely offered testing for group B Strep, unlike some other developed countries.
Infection from mum to baby is entirely preventable. The test is carried out 35 to 37 weeks. You are given antibiotics in labour to help the baby fight the infection. Many women carry the bacteria. It causes no harm at all but in pregnancy as the baby comes down the birth canal it can pick up the bacteria.
Timeline
| 30 Jan 2017 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 2 May 2017 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
36
Status
Closed
Opened
30 Jan 2017
Closed
2 May 2017
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.