Group B Strep Support

Group B Strep Support is a national charity based in the United Kingdom.

Abbreviation	GBSS
Formation	1996
Legal status	Registered charity no. 1112065
Purpose	To prevent life-threatening group B Strep infection in newborn babies
Headquarters	Haywards Heath
Region served	United Kingdom
Website	http://www.gbss.org.uk

History

Group B Strep Support was formed in 1996, after the founders' son had a group B Strep infection.^[1] Since then it has established a medical panel^[2] and set up a board of trustees.^[1] 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.^[3] In 2012, the chief executive Jane Plumb received an MBE for services for child health.^[4]

Aims

GBSS states that it has three main aims:^[5]

• 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.^{[6][7][8][9][10]}
• 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.^[11]
• Raised significant public awareness of group B Strep and the impact a group B Strep infection can have on newborn babies if not prevented.^{[12][13][14][15][16]}

Notable supporters

• Alasdair McDonnell^[17]
• David Cameron^[17]
• Hilary Jones (doctor)^[17]
• James Roby^[17][18][19]
• Jeffrey Donaldson^[17]
• Kate Garraway^[17]
• Nadine Dorries^[20]
• Nicholas Soames^[17]
• Philip Hollobone^[17]
• Theresa May^[17]

Patron

• Chris Steele^[21]
• James Roby^[21]
• Nicholas Soames^[21]