Group B Strep Support is a national

charity Charity may refer to: Giving * Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons * Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sharing * Ch ...

based in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

History

Group B Strep Support was formed in 1996, after the founders' son had a group B Strep infection. Since then it has established a medical panel and set up a board of trustees. The charity has been heavily involved in public consultations on group B Strep prevention, and in 2012 commented on the National Screening Committee's review of GBS testing. In 2012, the chief executive Jane Plumb received an MBE for services for child health.

Aims

GBSS states that it has three main aims: * Offer information and support to families affected by group B Streptococcus * Inform health professionals and individuals how most group B Strep infections in newborn babies can be prevented * Generate continued support for research into preventing group B Strep infections in newborn babies

Key achievements

*Worked with UK health professionals and professional medical bodies to raise the profile of group B Strep in the UK. *Played a part in causing the 2003 RCOG risk-based guidelines on the prevention of early-onset group B Strep infection, and continues to campaign for improved guidelines and awareness in medical professionals. *Raised significant public awareness of group B Strep and the impact a group B Strep infection can have on newborn babies if not prevented.

Notable supporters

Alasdair McDonnell Dr Alasdair McDonnell (born 1 September 1949) is an Irish politician who is a member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and was its leader from 2011 to 2015. He was the Member of Parliament for Belfast South from 2005 to 2017 and ...

* David Cameron *

Hilary Jones (doctor) Hilary Robert Jones (born 19 June 1953) is an English general practitioner, presenter and writer on medical issues, known for his media appearances, most often on television. He has written for '' News of the World'' and ''The Sun on Sunday' ...

* James Roby *

Jeffrey Donaldson Sir Jeffrey Mark Donaldson (born 7 December 1962) is a Northern Irish politician who has served as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) since June 2021. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lagan Valley since 1997, and lead ...

Kate Garraway Kathryn Mary Draper Garraway (born 4 May 1967) is an English broadcaster and journalist. In the 1990s, Garraway was a journalist for ITV News Central and later a co-presenter of ITV News Meridian. From 2000 to 2010, she co-presented GMTV. Cu ...

Nadine Dorries Nadine Vanessa Dorries (''née'' Bargery, 21 May 1957) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from 2021 to 2022 under Prime Minister Boris Johnson. A member of the Conservative Party, she ...

Nicholas Soames Arthur Nicholas Winston Soames, Baron Soames of Fletching, (born 12 February 1948) is a British Conservative Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Mid Sussex from 1997 to 2019, having previously served as the MP for ...

Philip Hollobone Philip Thomas Hollobone (born 7 November 1964) is a British Conservative Party politician and former investment banker. He has been the Member of Parliament for Kettering since the 2005 general election. Early life Hollobone was born on 7 Novem ...

Theresa May Theresa Mary May, Lady May (; née Brasier; born 1 October 1956) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2016 to 2019. She previously served in David Cameron's cab ...

Patron

* Chris Steele * James Roby *

References

External links

*{{Official website, http://www.gbss.org.uk/ Health charities in the United Kingdom Health issues in pregnancy Organizations established in 1996