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Why is the new GBS leaflet so Important?



Just before Christmas we received some amazing news from Group B Strep Support.  During September 2017, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) updated their Green-top Guideline in to the Group B Strep infection to advise that, it is now the national recommended practice to provide all pregnant women with information about GBS.  Now after collaboration between RCOG and GBSS, a jointly written leaflet will be provided in the UK to all pregnant women for the first time.


Why is this leaflet so important?


Firstly, the leaflet is endorsed by RCOG who aim to improve the healthcare of women worldwide and publish guidelines to provide high-quality care.  This will bring huge changes in both awareness and ultimately prevention of infections.


A hard-copy of the leaflet will be made available to all pregnant women in the UK (based on 2016 figures, that is around 0.7M per year) and is written in an easy to understand way that includes how to minimise the risk of infection in their baby.  A recent survey highlighted that only 1 third of pregnant women believed they were adequately informed about GBS and that the most likely way of being informed was through conversations with friends or personal experience rather than through discussion with their healthcare professional.  It is also widely believed that a lot of women become aware of GBS through unrelated screening results. 


The leaflet also highlights the more accurate test that is not normally available through the NHS, how the test can be obtained, conducted and the results used by the healthcare professional.


So, in a nutshell, because of the new leaflet every pregnant woman can read about GBS and decide for herself on the action she should take etc.  This must be a huge step forward.


Group B Strep Support


As I’m sure you would agree, taking into account the numbers of pregnancies in the UK each year, the cost of producing the leaflet is not cheap.  I think I am reasonably accurate in stating that it’s around 5 pence per leaflet so the annual cost is approximately £35,000.  This is money that GBSS must raise themselves and need help in doing so. 
That’s why they have set up a JustGiving page – see the link below:




Any help that you can give, large or small would be so gratefully received - even the price of a couple of cups of coffee!  By doing so would help lay the foundations of the UK become more aware of Group B Strep infections, give mothers to-be the necessary information to feel comfortable discussing GBS with their healthcare professional and to give this amazing charity the opportunity to produce and distribute the vital leaflets to all pregnant mothers from 2018 onwards.


I know I would want anyone in my family to receive this leaflet, I am positive you would want that for your family and loved ones too.


Amanda & Jason X

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